Energy News
BIO FUEL
UCF Researcher Develops Nature-Inspired Technology to Convert CO2 into Useful Fuels and Chemicals
illustration only
UCF Researcher Develops Nature-Inspired Technology to Convert CO2 into Useful Fuels and Chemicals
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 21, 2024

A University of Central Florida (UCF) researcher has created an innovative technology designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and transform it into valuable fuels and chemicals, potentially mitigating the environmental impact of CO2 emissions.

Yang Yang, an associate professor at UCF's NanoScience Technology Center, has developed a device that utilizes a microsurface composed of a tin oxide film and a fluorine layer. This surface is key to capturing gaseous CO2, which is then processed through a bubbling electrode that selectively converts the gas into carbon monoxide and formic acid-two essential chemicals widely used in manufacturing.

The technology, detailed in a recent study published in the 'Journal of the American Chemical Society', could play a significant role in reducing the global carbon footprint while also contributing to the production of alternative energy sources.

"We want to create a better technology to make our world better and cleaner," Yang stated, highlighting the motivation behind the development. "Too much carbon dioxide will have a greenhouse effect on the Earth and will heat it up very quickly. It's the motivation for why we want to develop this new material to grab and convert it into chemicals we can use."

This CO2 capture device could be implemented at power plants, industrial sites, or chemical production facilities, where it would convert emissions into practical products.

Inspiration from Nature
Yang explained that the design of the device was inspired by the lotus plant, known for its hydrophobic surface that repels water. "We as scientists always learn from nature," he said. "We want to see how the animals and the trees work. For this work, we learned from the lotus. We know that the lotus has a really hydrophobic surface, which means when you drop water on the surface, the water will go quickly away from the surface. We also know that green plants absorb carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen through photosynthesis."

This natural process informed Yang's design, where water on the device's hydrophobic surface is efficiently separated from the CO2 conversion reaction, preventing water from interfering with the conversion process.

Once captured, the CO2 is routed through an electrode and converted through a process that can be tailored more precisely than natural photosynthesis. This electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction can transform CO2 into a range of carbon-containing chemicals, including methanol, methane, ethylene, ethanol, acetate, and propanol, depending on the specific catalytic pathways employed.

"We want to create a better material which can quickly grab carbon dioxide molecules from the air and convert them into chemicals," Yang said. "We just reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and convert it in the liquid and gas phase so we can directly use those converted chemicals and fields for other applications."

Overcoming Research Challenges
One of the main challenges faced during the research was controlling the amount of water on the catalytic material's surface when exposing it to CO2 in a liquid electrolyte.

Yang explained, "If you have too much water surrounding your materials, you may produce hydrogen instead of converting carbon dioxide to chemicals. That will decrease the energy efficiency of the overall process. The materials we use can repel the water from the surface, so we can avoid the formation of hydrogen, and we can greatly enhance the carbon dioxide reduction efficiency. So that means eventually we can use almost all of the electricity for our reaction."

Scaling Up for Larger Applications
As efforts continue globally to capture and convert CO2, from reforestation to large-scale capture technologies, Yang hopes his device will offer a viable alternative that is less time-consuming and more cost-effective.

"In our process, we can use intermittent electricity, like the electricity coming from the solar panel or from the wind farm," he noted, underscoring the potential for integrating sustainable energy sources into the system.

The foundation for this technology stems from Yang's previous work at UCF, where he developed new materials for fuel cells utilizing fluorine-enhanced carbon nearly three years ago.

This research represents a crucial first step toward larger-scale CO2 capture methods, Yang explained. "For this, we validated our concept from the fundamental point of view. We tested the performance in our reactors, but in the future, we want to develop a bigger prototype that can show people how quickly we can convert and reduce the carbon dioxide concentration and generate chemicals or fuels very quickly from our large-scale prototype."

Research Report:Dynamic Bubbling Balanced Proactive CO2 Capture and Reduction on a Triple-Phase Interface Nanoporous Electrocatalyst

Related Links
NanoScience Technology Center at UCF
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
In Colombia, hungry beetle larvae combat trash buildup
Tunja, Colombia (AFP) Aug 13, 2024
In the far-flung Colombian highlands, beetles are the secret weapon in an innovative project to combat the ever-growing problem of trash buildup. Here, larvae of the enormous rhinoceros beetle eat through piles of organic garbage that would otherwise end up in polluting landfills. But that's not all. The larvae poop is gathered and sold as fertilizer, and when the beetles reach adulthood, they are sold as pets to clients as far afield as Japan. "The beetles have the answer" to rubbish dispos ... read more

BIO FUEL
Australia greenlights world's 'largest' solar hub

Energy-hungry Singapore eyes deserts, forest for renewables

Let it shine: top solar projects worldwide

Leaf-inspired Solar Concentrators Could Significantly Improve Efficiency

BIO FUEL
S.Africa ad body rules on TotalEnergies 'greenwashing'

Tanker behind mysterious Trinidad and Tobago oil spill refloated

NASA and bp America to collaborate on energy and space technologies

Shipping Industry's Sulfur Cutbacks Linked to Accelerated Global Warming

BIO FUEL
Cannon-Brookes: Australia's billionaire climate warrior

Environmental group lawsuit accuses Finland govt of climate inaction

Top UN court to hold climate justice hearings in December

In dry Lesotho, hunger stalks family farmers

BIO FUEL
MIT developing advanced materials to extend fusion reactor lifespan

More durable metals for fusion power reactors

Argentine lithium a boon for some, doom for others

SwRI Expands EV Battery Research with Launch of EVESE-II Consortium

BIO FUEL
UCF Researcher Develops Nature-Inspired Technology to Convert CO2 into Useful Fuels and Chemicals

In Colombia, hungry beetle larvae combat trash buildup

Polymer-Coated Copper Electrodes Enhance Selectivity in CO2 Conversion to Multicarbon Fuels

A recipe for zero-emissions fuel: Soda cans, seawater, and caffeine

BIO FUEL
China tech giant Xiaomi posts solid quarterly sales growth

Tesla faces lower-rate EU tariffs on China-made EVs

China's growing 'robotaxi' fleet sparks concern, wonder on streets

Ford adjusts EV lineup as it aims to lower vehicle cost

BIO FUEL
EU to 'firmly defend' dairy sector facing China probe

Enhanced Satellite Fusion Method Elevates Precision Agriculture

'Five years of fire': Romanian farms wilt in drought

Global Agricultural Expansion Poses Significant Risks to Climate and Biodiversity

BIO FUEL
Adaptive 3D Printing System Enhances Precision in Organism Handling

New antenna design could pave the way for advanced 6G satellite networks

Precision Two-Axis Fast Steering Mirror Platform by Physik Instrumente Introduced

Astroscale Demonstrates Advanced Fly-Around Capabilities in Space Debris Mission

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.