Nanocatalyst Embedded with Copper-Silver-Gold Developed to Improve Carbon Capture

A recent chemical study developed a nanoscale structure composed of several metals to create a new and effective catalyst for research on chemical reactions. Among the most familiar elements in the nanomaterial are copper, silver, and gold.

Carbon Capture and Nanotechnology

This nanocatalyst investigation aims to provide the carbon capture technology with more effective performance, enabling the generation to mitigate the risks associated with global warming.

The latest nano research claims the capacity to work with the ongoing developments against climate change. In recent years, policymakers have been concentrating on creating plans and solutions that can make carbon capture and utilization (CCU) work with the targets presented in data from numerous climate and environmental research.

The goal of the CCU system is to draw CO2 compounds straight from the atmosphere. Moreover, the collected chemicals will then be 'recycled' and serve as an alternative for today's choices, such as carbon monoxide, ethanol, ethylene, and formic acid.

The carbon contents grabbed from the atmosphere also have other functions, including the mass development of the green fuel, also known as carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, that could be utilized to operate several modes of transport that are challenging to shift into electricity-based engines, including shipping and aviation.

Alongside carbon capture being powered by carbon-free electric systems, CCU holds a promising capacity to transition the conventional energy collection methods into renewable energy that could supply power for the long term. When successful, carbon capture will exceed the help offered by other energy options such as solar and wind power.

Nanocatalyst for Carbon Capture Boost

The carbon capture's main process relies on a chemical reaction known as the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction or ECR. This systematic method is run by electricity enough to convert gaseous materials into other compounds that might be essential for other use.

ECR can separate atoms from the CO2 compound, leaving the carbon and oxygen elements separately. Water is commonly added to carbon products to develop further materials such as hydrocarbons and alcohol substances.

The ECR phase, however, becomes problematic once the hydrogen atoms are included in the equation. Instead of binding with the carbon, the water splits up and pairs with its atoms. This conundrum pushed chemists to find a way for a solution in the form of a catalyst.

PhysOrg reported that the study showed how more than one metal could work better than single-chemical catalysts. This is due to the heterostructures offered by various elements and compounds that give off various and better outcomes during ECR.

Bimetallic heterostructures selected by the authors of the new nano research include silver-copper (AgCu), gold-copper (AuCu), and zinc-copper (ZnCu). Experts discovered better results when these metallic catalysts are joined with CO2, carbon monoxide, and methane.

Synthesizing the three metals in the nanostructured catalyst was observed to give benefits for further adjustments during ECR phases.

The study was published in Nano Research, titled "Selectivity regulation of CO2 electroreduction on asymmetric AuAgCu tandem heterostructures."

Check out more news and information on Carbon Capture in Science Times.