You know what I love about plants? Their work ethic. Plants are consistently photosynthesizing to transform sunlight, water, and CO2 into chemical energy. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use these same materials to make energy for ourselves? Well, hold on to your chloroplasts – because now we can!
A team of chemists recently achieved artificial photosynthesis by using a catalyst made from the metal ruthenium (Ru) and organic molecules. Their reaction takes water and CO2 and converts them into oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide can be combined with hydrogen to make methanol, which can be used as a fuel!
Someday we may be able to grab that irksome greenhouse gas CO2 from the air and give it new purpose as the precursor to a useful fuel.
Image: Periodictableru via Wikimedia Commons
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