Direct Conversion of CO2 to Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel

ABSTRACT: This project has been investigating the feasibility of converting carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into renewable liquid hydrocarbon fuel using solar energy and the same thermodynamic principles that enable biological photosynthesis; however, existing industrial technologies and processes are being integrated and substituted for biological processes. Phase I activities have included development of concept designs utilizing commercially available technologies and demonstrating the ability to fabricate the necessary nano-scale components, and nano-macro interfaces, of the system. Phase II activities will concentrate on further integration, along with step-by-step verification, of the remaining technologies required for a complete laboratory-scale system that can produce renewable liquid hydrocarbon fuels from CO2, water, and low-voltage, direct-current electrical potential that can be readily obtained using commercial solar photovoltaics. Furthermore, the concept design will be further refined with the goal of reducing the complexity of the system to facilitate manufacturing. The managers of this project are highly qualified to perform this work as demonstrated by their successful track record developing and commercializing similar synthetic fuel technologies for the Government in the past. BENEFIT: The development of a system for producing liquid hydrocarbons using artificial photosynthesis has broad application across the nation. This technology has the potential to eventually replace some, if not all, traditional petroleum-based refinery production of transportation fuels and to dramatically reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere. It is likely that this technology will enable non-traditional private entities to license this technology and enter the fuel production market, thereby diversifying and increasing the competitive landscape of the fuel production market. It"s clear that, given our nation"s economic and military dependence on transportation fuels that a system that uses CO2 as a feedstock and produces the exact fuel needed for our existing assets would be a technology in high demand. The market demand for such a fuel drives M3"s commercialization strategy.