Fuel from Sunlight

Sossina Haile and her colleagues have designed and built a solar reactor that makes use of ceria, a relatively common metal oxide, to convert CO2 and H2O into syngas, a precursor to liquid hydrocarbon fuels. When conditions are right, the rates of CO2 splitting are uncommonly high. The rates of all reactions depend on the physical state of reactants, the concentrations of the reactants, the temperature at which the reaction occurs, and the presence of a catalyst. The creation of syngas derives from a reaction of CO2 and H2O in gas form at extremely high temperatures with cerium serving as a catalyst. The fact that CO2 does not have to be dissolved in water, the 3000 degree Fahrienhiet temperatures, and the plentiful amount of catalyst all contribute to the high rate of carbon splitting compared to other methods.

Unfortunately, the prototype that makes syngas is very inefficient, requires an enormous amount of energy, and needs extreme conditions for its conversion of CO2 and H2O to work. However, if greater efficiency is achieved or the reaction can be tweaked to work at a lower temperature, this could be a huge breakthrough. The carbon dioxide labeled as harmful to the environment could be put to use making syngas. Solar plants and coal burning factories could be built side by side while both serving energy needs and reducing pollution. Hopefully, this is the answer to clean energy.

see http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119102746.htm

Posted by Alex Fults-Ganey