Solar panels can make CO2 into formic fuel
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Researchers at Princeton University in the United States have designed an effective way to use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into potential alternative fuel formic acid. The research results were published in the latest issue of "CO2 Utilization."
In order to curb global warming caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, three aspects are usually involved: the development of alternative energy sources, the capture and storage of greenhouse gases, and the reuse of excess greenhouse gas emissions. Using two of these methods, Andrew, a professor of chemistry at Princeton University, and Liquid Light, a company founded by Moncton, New Jersey, designed an effective method to use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into a potential alternative fuel, formic acid.
According to a report from the Daily Science Network on July 1, commercial solar panels on the top of a power high-voltage pole in the entire state, generously provided by the U.S. Electric Power Public Service Company, generate energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into formic acid. This process takes place in an electrochemical cell, which contains a rectangular lunchbox-sized metal plate that can carry liquid passages.
Andrew said that in order to maximize the efficiency of this system, the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel must match the amount of power the electrochemical cell can handle. This optimization process is called impedance matching. By stacking three electrochemical cells together, the research team can achieve an energy efficiency of nearly 2%, which is twice the efficiency of photosynthesis in nature, and is the best energy efficiency report for man-made equipment used so far.
Many energy companies are very interested in storing solar energy formic acid fuel cells. In addition, formate formed from formic acid is the preferred deicing agent for airstrips because it is less corrosive to airplanes and safer to the environment than chlorine. With the increase in availability, formate can widely replace the use of more harmful salts.
The researchers said that this method uses waste carbon dioxide and readily available processing parts to provide a promising renewable fuel. (Hua Ling)
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