Electrocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Commercial Products

The United States continues to rely on petroleum and natural gas as its primary sources of fuel. As a consequence, the increase in CO2 emissions over the last 100 years has had a dramatic effect on our atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Additionally, our reliance on foreign oil is of increasing concern from a national security standpoint. The catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into liquid fuels, using solar and electrical energy, would enable the carbon in carbon dioxide to be recycled into fuels, thereby reducing its contribution to atmospheric warming and making it a source of renewable energy. However, no process currently exists for the efficient conversion of CO2. This project will develop an electrocatalytic process for conversion of carbon dioxide gas to commercial products. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Carbon dioxide is potentially a plentiful resource which could become the feedstock for many processes producing both fuels and commercial chemicals. The efficient conversion of CO2 to a useful product would have environmental and economic benefits to the public, reducing greenhouse gas concentrations and enabling an economy based on alternative energy.