This footage was filmed and produced 25 March 2024.

In a groundbreaking development poised to revolutionize the fight against climate change, researchers 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 holds the promise of unlocking new avenues for the production of environmentally friendly fuels, marking a crucial step towards a greener future.

An international team of scientists hailing from the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, University of Queensland, and University of Ulm collaborated to engineer a groundbreaking material comprising copper anchored on nanocrystalline carbon nitride. This intricate structure facilitates the transfer of electrons from carbon nitride to CO2 when exposed to solar irradiation, a pivotal step in the conversion of CO2 into methanol. Their findings have been documented 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 a 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, a major contributor to global warming, presents a formidable challenge in the quest for sustainability. Traditional methods of CO2 conversion often rely on hydrogen derived from fossil fuels, underscoring the urgent need for alternative approaches harnessing renewable energy sources and abundant water.