Carbon-neutral fuels move a step closer

Chemists at EPFL have developed an efficient process for converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a key ingredient of synthetic fuels and materials. The carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced when fossil fuels are burned is normally released into the atmosphere. Researchers working on synthetic fuels - also known as carbon-neutral fuels - are exploring ways to capture and recycle that CO₂. At EPFL, this research is spearheaded by a team led by Professor Xile Hu at the Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis (LSCI). The chemists have recently made a landmark discovery, successfully developing a high-efficiency catalyst that converts dissolved CO₂ into carbon monoxide (CO) - an essential ingredient of all synthetic fuels, as well as plastics and other materials. The researchers published their findings in Science on 14 June. Replacing gold with iron The new process is just as efficient as previous technologies, but with one major benefit.