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Revolutionary technology transforms air pollution into valuable chemicals and resources, with potential applications in chemical and pollutant industries, offering an innovative solution for the future of sustainability.
In a significant advance for science and sustainability, a researcher at University of Central Florida (UCF) is developing a innovative technology that promises to transform carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions into useful resources. Yang Yang, an associate professor at UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, is leading the research that could change how we tackle air pollution and climate change.
In a study published in Journal of the American Chemical Society, it was detailed that the innovative technology Yang uses an advanced device that captures CO₂ and converts it into carbon monoxide (CO) and formic acid, substances with multiple industrial applications.
"We can directly use these converted chemicals and fields for other applications“, explains the scientist, highlighting that the derived products can be used to manufacture fuels and high-value chemical materials, reducing pollution.
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Innovative technology — the solution to the climate crisis and pollution reduction
The innovation comes at a critical time, when carbon dioxide emissions are reaching alarming levels, directly contributing to global warming.
The technology developed by Yang not only seeks to reduce the carbon footprint in a sustainable way, but also enables the creation of a new alternative energy source. “We want to create better technology to make our world cleaner and more sustainable”, says Yang.
According to the scientist, excess CO₂ in the atmosphere intensifies the greenhouse effect, causing accelerated warming of the planet.
This innovative new technology is designed to operate in locations such as power plants and chemical plants where large amounts of carbon dioxide are emitted, reducing pollution from these locations. The goal is to capture these emissions before they reach the atmosphere and transform them into valuable resources.
Inspired by nature
The inspiration for this innovative technology came directly from nature. Yang explains that the development of the device was influenced by the lotus plant, which is famous for its highly hydrophobic surface. The lotus leaf repels water, a process Yang mimicked by creating a surface on his device that separates water from CO₂ during the conversion process.
The scientist compares his work to the process of photosynthesis in plants, which absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
However, their approach goes beyond natural photosynthesis, offering a faster, more effective process for capturing and converting CO₂ into useful products.
"We want to create a material that can quickly capture carbon dioxide molecules from the air and convert them into chemicals”, Yang said.
The method allows CO₂ to be converted into a liquid or gaseous form, facilitating its use in a variety of industrial applications, such as the manufacture of fuel, methanol, ethylene and other essential chemical compounds.
Challenges and energy efficiency,
Despite initial success, Yang's research faces technical challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was keeping water from interfering with the conversion process. CO₂.
If there is too much water in the catalytic materials, hydrogen can form, which would reduce the energy efficiency of the process. However, by creating a surface that repels water, Yang was able to significantly improve the efficiency of carbon dioxide conversion.
"If you have a lot of water around your materials, hydrogen production can occur instead of converting carbon dioxide into chemicals.“, explains Yang.
Precise control of this aspect is crucial to ensure that the process operates as efficiently as possible, harnessing almost all of the energy generated by electricity for CO₂ conversion.
The future of carbon capture
While there are initiatives around the world to reduce carbon emissions, such as tree planting and large-scale carbon capture technologies, Yang's technology stands out for its flexibility and adaptability.
The scientist believes that the CO₂ capture and conversion device could become a viable and efficient option compared to methods more expensive and time-consuming.
Additionally, Yang claims that the technology can be powered by sustainable energy sources such as solar panels and wind farms, making the process even more environmentally friendly.In our process, we can use intermittent electricity, such as electricity from solar panels or wind farms.“he says.
Next steps and collaborations
While the project is still in its early stages, the results are promising. Yang and his team’s goal is to scale up the technology, creating larger prototypes that can convert carbon dioxide in larger volumes and more quickly.
"We have tested the performance in our reactors, but in the future we want to develop a larger prototype that can show people how quickly we can convert and reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide.“, explains Yang.
Yang's research has attracted the attention of leading universities and research centers around the world. Collaborating institutions include the University of Houston, the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and the Oriental Institute for Advanced Study in Ningbo, China.
With a diverse team of researchers and collaborations with renowned universities, Yang Yang's groundbreaking technology could usher in a new era in the fight against climate change.
If successful on a large scale, this innovation will not only help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, but will also transform how we generate and use energy in the future.
