Climate change and carbon emissions are pressing concerns as the world shifts towards carbon neutrality. One promising approach is converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into useful fuels and chemicals. Researchers from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea have made a breakthrough in this area, introducing an electrochemical technique that transforms CO2 into ‘allyl alcohol,’ a high-value compound with various industrial applications.
The new technology sets a global performance record by combining exceptional efficiency with large-scale production capability. The team created a phosphorus-rich copper catalyst, which achieved a Faraday efficiency of 66.9%, four times higher than existing best technology. This high efficiency proves the excellent selectivity of the catalyst, minimizing unnecessary byproducts and selectively producing only the desired substance.
The technology also recorded a partial current density of 735.4 mA cm−2 and a production rate of 1643 μmol cm−2 h−1 in a process that can apply 1100 mA cm−2 per unit area of the electrode, representing the highest reported performance to date. Allyl alcohol is used as an essential raw material across various industries, making this technology a game-changer for its mass production.
The method revealed a new reaction pathway, forming a carbon-carbon bond during the conversion of an intermediate group from formate to formaldehyde. This mechanism increases the commercial value of the product by directly producing liquids that are easier to store and transport. The breakthrough technology marks a significant step towards economical electrochemical carbon capture and utilization, selectively converting CO2 into high-value compounds.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/korean-scientists-transform-co%E2%82%82-into-liquid-gold