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Solar-Powered Electrochemical Cell Used To Produce Formic Acid From CO2

Posted by samzenpus on from the give-me-your-carbon dept.

Zothecula writes Rising atmospheric CO2 levels can generally be tackled in three ways: developing alternative energy sources with lower emissions; carbon capture and storage (CCS); and capturing carbon and repurposing it. Researchers at Princeton University are claiming to have developed a technique that ticks two of these three boxes by using solar power to convert CO2 into formic acid. With power from a commercially available solar panel provided by utility company Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G), researchers in the laboratory of Princeton professor of chemistry Andrew Bocarsly, working with researchers at New Jersey-based start-up Liquid Light Inc., converted CO2 and water to formic acid (HCOOH) in an electrochemical cell.

3 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Great... Instead of CO2 we get CO by kolbe · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why would you want to convert Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Monoxide?

    If not used immediately, Formic acid decomposes into carbon monoxide and water when exposed to air and heat. I wouldn't exactly call this a "game changer" unless the target of it all is to give everyone A) a lot of toilet bowl cleaner for cheap or B) a silent death.

  2. Great... Instead of CO2 we get CO by JPyObjC+Dude · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Formic acid can be stored and used in a fuel cell to have a very good solar storage fuel. No need to worry about CO if kept within this fuel cycle.

    Related Abstract: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content...

  3. Re:Given that methane synthesis ... by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The two dreams are:
    - A 3D printer that takes its ink from the atmospheric carbon.
    - A solar panel that produces lipids, sugars and proteins.

    So... a tree.