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Researchers have synthesized a novel and highly effective photocatalyst that can convert carbon dioxide into ethene and ethylene, high-value products used as fuel gases and also for the polymer industry. The innovation has expanded and received national and international attention.
On the path to a sustainable future, harnessing solar energy for fuel production is crucial. In this context, efficient photocatalysts are needed to catalyze the conversion of solar energy into fuel. In fact, these photocatalysts can efficiently generate useful and high-value products from carbon dioxide (CO2), which is important for solar fuel production. Now, while recent developments have yielded some beneficial results toward this goal, materials for photocatalytic CO2 Reduction reactions with selectivity toward such high-value products are still in the early stages of development.
To this end, Professor Sebastian C. Peter, Materials Scientist, Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru (an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India), has recently carried out innovative research. . He conducted two interconnected studies with collaboration from industry and academia. The findings of these studies were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) and Angewandte Chemie International Edition, respectively. The JACS study led to the development of a novel, highly efficient photocatalyst with an unprecedented 99% selectivity toward C2H4, a typically high-value product obtained from CO2. Furthermore, Angewandte’s study reports the facile synthesis of the wurtzite phase of CuGaS2, a photocatalyst for the CO2 reduction reaction, by colloidal synthesis.
The composite catalyst developed in JACS The study demonstrates the highest formation rate in the field of photocatalysis. The research also presents a cost-effective and template-free synthetic strategy for the development of the composite catalyst. This not only emphasizes practicality and cost-effectiveness, but also suggests a potentially scalable approach for large-scale applications. In it Angewandte study, the wurtzite phase of the photocatalyst suffers in the place Reconstruction of surfaces in specific conditions. This reconstruction process ultimately facilitates the selective conversion of CO2 to ethylene.
Professor Peter’s work focuses on the development, discovery and scale-up of materials with a focus on applications in the energy and environmental sectors. An important area of his research involves using various pathways, such as high-pressure, high-temperature conditions or harnessing electricity, to convert captured CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. In his search for green technologies, he has ventured into using sunlight to convert CO2 and water into several valuable compounds in addition to methanol. This innovative approach, combining chemistry and chemical engineering, demonstrates the depth of Professor Sebastian’s exploration of the structural nuances of catalysts.
This recent breakthrough by JNCASR scientists has facilitated the development of the country’s first plant that can convert CO2 in methanol. It involves connecting directly to the smoke flows of a power generation plant in the state of Telangana. By capturing CO2 from contaminated atmospheric emissions and producing hydrogen on site, its goal is to convert one ton of CO2 per day in methanol.
Speaking about these advances, Prof. Sebastian says: “The catalysts we have developed have not simply been limited to the laboratory. In fact, we have successfully expanded our innovations, with a dedicated building within JNCASR’s other campus serving as an epicenter for large-scale demonstrations. “These demonstrations have attracted the attention of national and international agencies, including our participation in the prestigious NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, where our technology received ISO certification.”
This research was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Nanotechnology Platform Program of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT), the European Facility Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), PETRA III light source at DESY and JNCASR.
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Contact details:
Author Name: Prof. Sebastián. C. Pedro
Email ID: sebastiancp(at)jncasr(dot)ac(dot)in
