For a while now, researchers have been trying to explore ways to chemically convert CO2 into fuels which holds the potential to power vehicles in a more eco-friendly way. Recently, University of Michigan researchers convert CO2 to methanol with new catalyst, cobalt phthalocyanine.
Researchers from the University of Michigan have created a catalyst substance called cobalt phthalocyanine. This amazing development can transform CO2 into sustainable fuels like methanol.
In the published report, researchers have explained how they used cobalt phthalocyanine as a catalyst to transform carbon dioxide into methanol. There are multiple reaction steps involved in this process.
- To convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO).
- It includes converting the CO into methanol.
Highlights: CO2 to Methanol
- Molecular arrangement of cobalt metal, known as geometry, is an important determinant of how tightly each gas molecule binds with each other.
- Cobalt phthalocyanine acts like a tiny hook for CO2 or CO molecules. It sticks harder to carbon dioxide almost 3x harder in comparison to CO molecules.
- This adds one more step in the process where CO2 displaces CO before converting into methanol.
- The reason behind this are the different mixing behavior of the catalyst electron that shows while binding CO2 and CO molecules.
- Possible solution is to change the design of cobalt phthalocyanine to make electrons stick strongly to CO but less to CO2.
Researchers are also transforming CO2 into solid carbon nanofibers through catalytic combos.
Conclusion
So, University of Michigan researchers convert CO2 to methanol with new catalyst and that too on a large scale. This will also offer a sustainable as well as an eco-friendly way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide a path for the production of green energy.
