Researchers have created a brand-new, very effective photocatalyst that can transform carbon dioxide into high-value compounds like ethylene and ethene, which are utilised in the polymer industry as well as fuel gases. The idea has gained national and international recognition and has being scaled up.
It is of vital importance to use solar energy for fuel generation as we get closer to a sustainable future. In this case, the process of converting solar energy into fuel requires the use of effective photo catalysts. In reality, these photocatalysts can effectively convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into high-value and beneficial chemicals, which is crucial for the generation of solar fuel. Materials for photocatalytic CO2 reduction processes with selectivity towards such high-valued compounds are still in the early phases of research, despite recent advancements producing some positive findings towards this objective.
In order to do this, a recent ground-breaking study was carried out by Professor Sebastian C. Peter, a material scientist from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru (an independent organisation under the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India). He conducted two related research with the cooperation of industry and academics. A unique and extremely effective photocatalyst with an unparalleled 99% selectivity towards C2H4, a generally high-value product derived from CO2. Furthermore, the study describes the simple production by colloidal synthesis of CuGaS2’s wurtzite phase, a photocatalyst for the CO2 reduction process.
The composite catalyst developed demonstrates the highest formation rate in the field of photocatalysis. The research also introduces a template-free and cost-effective synthetic strategy for the development of the composite catalyst. This not only emphasizes practicality and cost efficiency, but also suggests a potentially scalable approach for large-scale applications.
With a particular emphasis on the applications in the energy and environmental sectors, Prof. Peter’s work focuses on the development, discovery, and scaling up of materials. His work has focused on the use of several processes, power generation or the use of high pressure and high temperature, to transform trapped CO2 into useful chemicals and fuels. In his search for environment friendly solutions, he has used sunlight to change CO2 and water into a variety of useful molecules other than methanol.
Scientists at JNCASR have made a significant advancement that will aid in the creation of the nation’s first CO2 to methanol facility. This entails making a direct connection to the flue streams of a Telangana power plant. Their goal is to turn one ton of CO2 into methanol each day by absorbing CO2 from emissions of dirty air and creating hydrogen on-site. Thus, this innovation will lead to a much better AQI in all the populous Indian cities which contribute to a lot of air pollution.
