A chemistry
professor has found a way to trigger the process of photosynthesis in a
synthetic material, turning greenhouse gases into clean air and producing
energy all at the same time. The process
has great potential for creating a technology that could significantly reduce
greenhouse gases linked to climate change, while also creating a clean way to
produce energy.
The findings
of his research are published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A . This
work is a breakthrough,” said UCF AssistantProfessor Fernando Uribe-Romo.
“Tailoring materials that will absorb a specific color of light is very
difficult from the scientific point of view, but from the societal point of
view we are contributing to the development of a technology that can help
reduce greenhouse gases.”
Uribe-Romo
and his team of students created a way to trigger a chemical reaction in a
synthetic material called metal–organic frameworks (MOF) that breaks down
carbon dioxide into harmless organic materials.
Think of it
as an artificial photosynthesis process similar to the way plants convert
carbon dioxide (CO2) and sunlight into food. But instead of producing food,
Uribe-Romo’s method produces solar fuel. The video below highlights this
groundbreaking invention.
It worked
and the chemical reaction transformed the CO2 into two reduced forms of carbon,
formate and formamides (two kinds of solar fuel) and in the process cleaning
the air.
“The goal is
to continue to fine-tune the approach so we can create greater amounts of
reduced carbon so it is more efficient,” Uribe-Romo said. He wants to see if
the other wavelengths of visible light may also trigger the reaction with
adjustments to the synthetic material. If it works, the process could be a
significant way to help reduce greenhouse gases.
“The idea would be to set up stations that capture large amounts of CO2, like next to a power plant. The gas would be sucked into the station, go through the process and recycle the greenhouse gases while producing energy that would be put back into the power plant.”
Perhaps
someday homeowners could purchase rooftop shingles made of the material, which
would clean the air in their neighborhood while producing energy that could be
used to power their homes.
Post A Comment:
0 comments: