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Researchers have engineered a solar-powered device capable of extracting pollution from the atmosphere and transforming it into fuel for vehicles and aircraft.
This innovative reactor, developed by a team at the University of Cambridge, mimics the process of photosynthesis and operates without any cables or batteries to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air into syngas.
The scientists assert that this reactor presents a novel approach to address the climate crisis, offering a viable alternative to current Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) methods.
CCS has been promoted as a potential solution for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, with the UK government recently committing £22 billion to this technology.
However, existing CCS techniques have faced criticism for their high energy consumption and lack of CO2 recycling, alongside safety concerns regarding the underground storage of compressed CO2.
“What if we could transform carbon dioxide into something beneficial instead of injecting it underground?” posed Dr. Sayan Kar from the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry at Cambridge.
“CO2 is a harmful greenhouse gas, but it can also be converted into valuable chemicals without exacerbating global warming… If we could mass-produce these devices, we would tackle two challenges simultaneously: reducing atmospheric CO2 and generating a clean alternative to fossil fuels.”
The device functions by absorbing CO2 from the environment at night using specialized filters, and then utilizes sunlight during the day to trigger a chemical reaction that converts it into syngas, which can replace gasoline.
Moreover, syngas can be used to manufacture chemicals and pharmaceutical products, while its user-friendly design enables individuals in remote areas to produce their own fuel.
“Instead of continuously extracting and burning fossil fuels to create the products we depend on, we can source all CO2 directly from the atmosphere and repurpose it,” stated Professor Erwin Reisner, who spearheaded the research.
“This initiative could pave the way for a circular, sustainable economy if we harness the political will to make it happen.”
The details of the device are published in a study titled ‘Direct air capture of CO2 for solar fuel production in flow’, found in the journal Nature Energy.
The researchers are now aiming to bring this technology to market with support from Cambridge Enterprise.
