British scientists claim they can turn CO2 into sustainable fuel in a groundbreaking development they say could be used in the climate protection industry.

The researchers said they have achieved a significant milestone by converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into methanol through a novel process involving sunlight and single atoms of copper.

This innovative discovery promises to unlock new avenues for producing environmentally friendly fuels, marking a crucial step towards a greener future.

An international team of scientists from the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, University of Queensland, and University of Ulm collaborated to engineer a material comprising of copper anchored on nanocrystalline carbon nitride.

They said t he intricate structure facilitates the transfer of electrons from carbon nitride to CO2 when exposed to solar irradiation, a pivotal step in converting CO2 into methanol.

Their findings have been documented this week in the Sustainable Energy & Fuels Journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Photocatalysis, the process at the heart of this breakthrough, relies on the illumination of semiconductor material to energize electrons, enabling them to react with CO2 and water to produce a range of valuable products, including methanol.

While previous methods have faced challenges related to efficiency and selectivity, this innovative approach offers a promising solution to these longstanding issues.

Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to global warming, and traditional methods of CO2 conversion often rely on hydrogen derived from fossil fuels, underscoring the urgent need for alternative approaches to harnessing renewable energy sources and abundant water.

Dr.Madasamy Thangamuthu, a key figure in the research team, emphasised the importance of material design at the nanoscale.

He said: 'There is a large variety of different materials used in photocatalysis. It is important that the photocatalyst absorbs light and separates charge carriers with high efficiency.'

The researchers used a process involving the heating of carbon nitride to enhance its crystallinity and optimize its photocatalytic properties.

By depositing atomic copper using magnetron sputtering, they achieved intimate contact between the semiconductor and metal atoms, resulting in a catalyst with unprecedented efficiency.

Tara LeMercier, a PhD student involved in the experimental work, highlighted the remarkable efficacy of the new catalyst.

She said: 'Even without copper, the new form of carbon nitride is 44 times more active than traditional carbon nitride.

'However, to our surprise, the addition of only 1 mg of copper per 1 g of carbon nitride quadrupled this efficiency.'

Professor Andrei Khlobystov underscored the sustainability of the new catalyst, which is composed of carbon, nitrogen, and copper - elements abundant on Earth.

He emphasised its potential in advancing the UK's net-zero ambitions and addressing critical challenges in CO2 conversion.

The team said the research, funded by the EPSRC Programme Grant 'Metal atoms on surfaces and interfaces (MASI) for sustainable future,' represents a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable energy solutions.'