Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing ways to convert dissipation into fuels and other products , using processes that are energy efficient and power by renewable sources .
More specifically , they ’re close to resolving the challenge of change over carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) , a major greenhouse gas , into valuable chemical substance using electricity .
CO2 can be a utile unsanded material for make commodity chemical and fuel . But , the operation of creating the necessary reaction is n’t easy because it requires high air pressure , high-pitched temperature , and special stuff .
“ Our modern social club is in critical need of technologies that can catch the CO2 from wastefulness — or even air travel — and convert it to product at benign conditions , ” say Burcu Gurkan , professor of chemical substance engineering at Case School of Engineering . “ Electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide is an open problem that is more than 150 years old . ”
Until now , research has mainly focused on developing accelerator materials and interpret the energy - intensive CO2 conversion response in water - base electrolyte . Yet challenge remain because water - based systems have determine capacity for CO2 . In summation , the process includes undesirable side reaction , such as hydrogen throttle expelling .
But , in a study published this twilight in the European journal Angewandte Chemie , the Case Western Reserve inquiry team demonstrated that the ionic liquidness they developed effectively capture and exchange CO2 in an electrochemical process .
Ionic liquids are SALT that melt below 100 degrees Celsius . The unity that Gurkan ’s group develop are fluent at room temperature . These ionic liquids are also unique in that they have a mellow capacity for CO2 capture and maintain electrochemical stability . As a result , the squad attain the desired electrochemical process .
“ Our approaching focuses on ionic liquid electrolyte that can neuter the thermodynamics and product distribution due to energizing effects which can be further tune up , thanks to the flexibility in ionic liquid design , ” Gurkan said .
The discipline , led by Oguz Kagan Coskun , a doctoral scholar in Gurkan ’s group , combine spectroscopic and electroanalytical techniques to reveal the underlying mechanisms necessary for ionic liquid to trigger off the CO2 simplification chemical reaction at the copper electrode surface .
The group reported needing less zip to tug the reaction and note that it could pass to the creation of a variety of industrially relevant products — without the undesirable side products recover in the traditional electrolysis process .
Further , the report explains crucial aspects influencing the properties of the reaction surround for the effective consumption of CO2 . This extra data give to a deep understanding of the reaction environment , especially concern unlawful electrolytes .
The squad plans to examine the item-by-item response steps further to inform subsequent electrolyte designing . The ultimate destination is better control of the chemical substance from the reaction and advance the electrochemical approaches to CO2 recycling .
The subject area ’s co - authors include Case School of Engineering postdoctoral investigator Saudagar Dongare and doctoral student Aidan Klemm . The study was supported by Gurkan ’s National Science Foundation CAREER honor from the foundation ’s Division of Chemical , Bioengineering , Environmental and Transport Systems .
Their inquiry was complemented by quantum calculations by postdoctoral researcher Brian Doherty and Professor Mark Tuckerman , both at New York University .
Gurkan is also a researcher associate with 4C ( Center for Closing the Carbon Cycle ) , which focuses on combined capture and electrochemical conversion of CO2 . In addition , she is deputy director of CWRU ’s BEES2 ( Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage ) , which focalise on understanding fundamental electrochemical cognitive operation in structured electrolyte ; both are Energy Frontier Research Centers of the U.S. Department of Energy .
seed : case.edu
