On the Road to Artificial Photosynthesis

Over the last few decades, a goal in the field of environmental chemistry was to replicate the reduction of excessive atmospheric carbon dioxide by that of "artificial photosynthesis." This has the potential to, not only reduce the current levels of caron dioxide in the atmosphere, but also, to produce clean sustainable fuels in an effort to reduce further emissions. There is, however, some issue in finding a suitable catalyst that efficiently favors the reduction of carbon dioxide. This issue has been attacked by many scientists, but new research results from Berkeley Lab have provided somewhat of a breakthrough in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. Chemist, Peidong Yang, has made several crucial new observations relating the electronic and geometric effects on atomic bonds holding the molecule together. These new discoveries could be the information needed to develop a selective, efficient catalyst needed to make the idea of "artificial photsynthesis" a reality.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140925150824.htm

Submitted by Thomas Olson