Recycling carbon dioxide worth its weight in gold

We’re taking recycling to the next level, with researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) – University of Wollongong and Monash University nodes, working together on technologies to make repurposing carbon dioxide (CO₂) a profitable industry.

Our research could open new opportunities to harness CO₂ be electrochemically converting the gas into a useable, energy-rich carbon monoxide (CO) chemical fuel, in turn reducing CO₂ levels in the atmosphere and minimising our environmental footprint.

Historically, the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ has been highly inefficient, requiring large amounts of energy and producing a less desired end product. Gold is an ideal catalyst for promoting the CO₂-to-CO conversion, however, cost is a big issue for practical application.

Now, our research has shown modified ultra-small gold nanoparticles modified with amine molecules may be the key in successfully recycling CO₂. Our team has developed a new, simple process to produce reliable ultra-small gold nanoparticles as a catalyst in the conversion, resulting in a more effective procedure to recycle CO₂ into the desired CO.

Read more about this exciting research in the online paper published in Advanced Energy Materials.