Energy News
BIO FUEL
Cobalt copper tandem catalysts transform CO2 into renewable ethanol
illustration only
Cobalt copper tandem catalysts transform CO2 into renewable ethanol
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Nov 05, 2024

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have unveiled a pioneering approach to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethanol, providing a sustainable alternative for chemical applications and energy storage. This technique, led by Professor Carsten Streb from JGU's Department of Chemistry, offers a pathway to repurpose CO2 emissions as part of a closed-loop carbon cycle, with the potential for wider use in industry. "We can remove the greenhouse gas CO2 from the environment and reintroduce it into a sustainable carbon cycle," said Streb.

His research focuses on transforming CO2 into ethanol through electrocatalysis. When combined with green energy sources, this process could reduce the reliance on food crops, such as corn, that are traditionally used to produce ethanol for fuel. Streb added that while the process currently operates on a laboratory scale, it holds promise for larger-scale applications. Findings from the study are now published in 'ACS Catalysis'.

Cobalt-Copper Catalysts Achieve High Selectivity in CO2 Conversion
The electrochemical transformation of CO2 to multicarbon compounds, such as ethanol, is an efficient way to capture CO2 and produce valuable materials for industrial use. However, success hinges on using catalysts that can achieve high selectivity, ensuring a high yield of ethanol. "To achieve this, we require suitable catalysts capable of this conversion with high selectivity so that we obtain a high yield of the desired product, which - in our case - is ethanol," explained Streb.

The research team engineered a specialized electrode, carefully coated with a black cobalt-copper powder in precise amounts and positioning. This tandem setup allows cobalt to initially break down the strong bonds within CO2, producing carbon monoxide. The copper component then catalyzes the conversion from carbon monoxide to ethanol, a process that only succeeds when both metals are correctly positioned on the electrode. "The initial challenge is to get carbon dioxide to react," said Streb. "The bonds between the atoms of the molecule are very strong, but cobalt can break them."

Boosting Efficiency for Broader Application
Currently, the method achieves 80 percent selectivity in converting CO2 to ethanol, the highest reported so far. Dr. Soressa Abera Chala, a lead author on the study, was instrumental in this optimization as a Humboldt Research Fellow at JGU. Co-authors Dr. Rongji Liu and Dr. Ekemena Oseghe also contributed to the research as Humboldt fellows. Efforts are underway to enhance this selectivity to between 90 and 95 percent, with the goal of eventually achieving 100 percent, where only ethanol is produced as the end product.

Collaborative Efforts Under CataLight
Collaboration with Ulm University as part of the Collaborative Research Center / Transregio "CataLight" (CRC/TRR 234) has been essential to this research. Through advanced electron microscopy, the team can observe individual atom placement on the catalyst, enabling them to refine the electrode's composition.

This focus on cobalt and copper stems from their abundance and affordability, which makes the process viable without costly precious metals like platinum. "We need to see the individual atoms, which is possible using a special kind of electron microscope," said Streb. This research aims to create a stable catalyst that maintains efficiency for extended periods.

A Sustainable Path to Ethanol Production
Producing ethanol from CO2 and green electricity presents an opportunity to alleviate the demand on food resources typically used for biofuel production. "By using globally available raw materials as catalysts, we are following an approach in current research to increasingly focus on non-precious metals," emphasized Streb.

This technology could supply sustainable ethanol, reducing reliance on agricultural crops like sugarcane and maize currently used in ethanol production, especially in regions such as Brazil. This development offers a scalable solution for producing ethanol that can be stored and used for power generation on demand.

SusInnoScience Research Context
Professor Streb, who joined JGU in 2022, is involved in several collaborative research projects on sustainable catalysis supported by German scientific and educational foundations. His work is part of JGU's Top Level Research Area SusInnoScience, which aims to promote sustainable chemical innovation for resource-efficient science.

+ Research group of Professor Carsten Streb at the JGU Department of Chemistry

+ JGU Top Level Research Area SusInnoScience - Sustainable chemistry as the key to innovation in resource-efficient science in the Anthropocene

+ CRC/Transregio 234: Light-Driven Molecular Catalysts in Hierarchically Structured Materials - Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies (CataLight), funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)

Research Report:Selective Electroreduction of CO2 to Ethanol via Cobalt - Copper Tandem Catalysts

Related Links
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Bio Fuel Technology and Application News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
BIO FUEL
Vast and GGS Energy launch Project Bravo to power US green fuel production
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 30, 2024
Vast Renewables Limited ("Vast") (Nasdaq: VSTE), a leader in concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) systems, has announced a development services agreement with GGS Energy LLC ("GGS Energy") to launch Project Bravo, a major synthetic fuels project in the Southwest United States. The partnership will leverage Vast's CSP v3.0 technology to power a refinery producing green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF), marking Vast's debut in the U.S. market. Project Bravo will utilize CSP-generated ... read more

BIO FUEL
Investigating limitations in new materials for perovskite solar cells

High renewable energy penetration reduces blackout impact

KAIST researchers improve hybrid perovskite solar cells with enhanced infrared capture

Hydrogels utilize sunlight for sustainable hydrogen production

BIO FUEL
Harnessing oil and gas windfall profits for climate funding

Researchers advance hydrogen jet engine design for sustainable aviation

U.S. secures 200 million barrels of oil for strategic reserve

Venezuela signs defense, energy deals with Russia; Greek tanker crippled by Huthi rebels starts oil transfer

BIO FUEL
Nations gather for crunch climate talks in shadow of US vote

Lancet calls for urgenet shift in fossil fuel investment to tackle climate health impacts

Papua New Guinea to boycott 'waste of time' UN climate summit

1.2 billion people at 'high risk' from climate change: World Bank

BIO FUEL
NASA opens Power Systems essay contest for K12 students

Silk Thread Innovation Powers Smart Textile Technology

Direct Observation of Space Charge Layers Inside Fuel Cell Electrolytes

In search of high-performance materials for fusion reactors

BIO FUEL
Waste heat from London sewers eyed to warm UK parliament

Bio-based fibers may have greater environmental impact than traditional plastics

Cobalt copper tandem catalysts transform CO2 into renewable ethanol

Sacred cow: coal-hungry India eyes bioenergy to cut carbon

BIO FUEL
Bentley pushes back target of all-electric luxury cars to 2035

BMW's profits plunge as China sales slump

Paris banishes through-traffic from city centre

Norway speeds ahead of EU in race for fossil-free roads

BIO FUEL
France says still room for negotiation over China's brandy tariffs

Making agriculture more resilient to climate change

Surf and Turf: Oregon State researchers to study feeding seaweed to cattle

Czech Republic curbs animal movement over bluetongue spread

BIO FUEL
NASA to transform in-space manufacturing with laser beam welding collaboration

A smart screen for cooling and sun protection

New AI microbiome tool offers breakthroughs in forensics and epidemiology

Wooden bricks set to sea off Denmark to track plastic waste

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.