Researchers at McGill University have made a groundbreaking discovery by using sunlight to convert harmful greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals. This innovative process has the potential to play a significant role in addressing climate change and creating a more sustainable approach to producing industrial products.
“Imagine a world where the exhaust from your car or emissions from a factory could be transformed, with the help of sunlight, into clean fuel for vehicles, the building blocks for everyday plastics, and energy stored in batteries,” said co-first author Hui Su, a Postdoctoral Fellow in McGill’s Department of Chemistry. “That’s precisely the kind of transformation this new chemical process enables.”
Through this light-driven chemical process, methane and carbon dioxide are converted into green methanol and carbon monoxide in a single reaction. Both of these products are highly sought after in the chemical and energy sectors, making this discovery particularly impactful.
The research, published in Nature Communications, unveils a groundbreaking process inspired by nature’s own mechanism, akin to how plants use sunlight for photosynthesis. In this innovative chemical process, a special combination of gold, palladium, and gallium nitride functions as a catalyst.
When exposed to sunlight, this catalyst facilitates a reaction where an oxygen atom from carbon dioxide combines with a methane molecule, yielding green methanol while also producing carbon monoxide as a byproduct.
“By tapping into the abundant energy of the sun, we can essentially recycle two greenhouse gases into useful products. The process works at room temperature and doesn’t require the high heat or harsh chemicals used in other chemical reactions,” said lead author Chao-Jun Li, a Distinguished James McGill Professor in McGill’s Department of Chemistry and a Canada Research Chair in Green/Organic Chemistry.
“This innovation offers a promising path towards Canada’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and turns an environmental challenge into an opportunity for a more sustainable future,” said co-first author Jing-Tan Han, a PhD student in McGill’s Department of Chemistry.
The research received backing from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Research Chair program, Fonds de Recherche du Québec Nature et technologies, the Canada Foundation for Innovations, McGill University’s MSSI fund, Axelys, and Catalum Technologies.
Journal reference:
- Hui Su, Jing-Tan Han, Botong Miao, Mahdi Salehi & Chao-Jun Li. Photosynthesis of CH3OH via oxygen-atom-grafting from CO2 to CH4 enabled by AuPd/GaN. Nature Communications, 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50801-3
