{"id":9808,"date":"2021-03-03T09:40:53","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T09:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=9808"},"modified":"2021-03-03T09:40:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T09:40:53","slug":"converting-carbon-dioxide-into-methane-using-light-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/converting-carbon-dioxide-into-methane-using-light-energy\/9808\/","title":{"rendered":"Converting carbon dioxide into methane using light energy"},"content":{"rendered":"
Carbon dioxide (CO2<\/sub>) is a significant contributor to global warming but could potentially be utilised as a valuable resource. \u00a0Scientists all over the world are investigating ways to convert CO2 <\/sub>into useful carbon-based chemicals but are currently restricted by low efficiencies that limit the possibility of large-scale application.<\/p>\n Researchers at KAUST<\/a> have created catalyst nanoparticles that capture wavelengths of light and use the light energy to convert CO2 <\/sub>and hydrogen into methane (CH4<\/sub>). This counteracts the release of CO2 <\/sub>when methane is burned as a fuel.<\/p>\n Diego Mateo, postdoc and one of the authors of the paper<\/a>, which was published in Advanced Functional Materials, <\/em>explained: \u201cOur approach is based on the synergistic combination of light and heat, known as the photothermal effect.\u201d Heat is generated by the interaction of light with the catalyst, so the energy comes from absorbed light.<\/p>\n Other approaches being developed require heating from external sources to achieve high temperatures of up to 500\u00b0 \u00a0Celsius. In contrast, the researchers at KAUST have shown that the reaction can be accomplished just by using the photothermal effect of daylight.<\/p>\n The catalyst is constructed from nickel particles on a layer of barium titanate. The catalyst traps light in a way that kicks electrons into high energy states. The \u2018hot electrons\u2019 begin a chemical reaction that converts CO2<\/sub> back into methane<\/a>.<\/p>\n