Transforming carbon dioxide (CO
2) into methane efficiently is now possible thanks to a team of researchers at DGIST. By using a new combination of materials, they have achieved a conversion rate of 99.3%, paving the way for a promising solution against global warming.
Illustration image by Pixabay
Reducing greenhouse gases like CO
2 is crucial in fighting climate change. Photocatalytic technology, which uses sunlight and water to transform CO
2 into useful substances, offers an eco-friendly solution. Professor In Soo-il and his team have made a significant breakthrough in improving this technology.
They combined cadmium selenide, which absorbs visible and infrared light, with amorphous titanium dioxide. Unlike crystalline titanium dioxide, amorphous titanium dioxide creates more active sites, thereby increasing the conversion efficiency.
The amorphous structure also allows for a more stable charge transfer, which is essential for the efficient conversion of CO
2. Additionally, this new photocatalyst regenerates quickly at room temperature with oxygen, unlike traditional photocatalysts that require heat.
The TiO
2-CdSe photocatalyst demonstrated exceptional performance, maintaining a conversion rate of 99.3% after six hours of photoreaction. This advancement is promising for potential commercialization.
Future research will aim to reduce energy losses and improve the long-term stability of this photocatalyst. This project is supported by research programs in South Korea and China, under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and ICT.