What makes a hydrocarbon fuel from CO2 and water?

Liquid hydrocarbon fuel created from CO2 and water in breakthrough one-step process. “Concentrated light drives the photochemical reaction, which generates high-energy intermediates and heat to drive thermochemical carbon-chain-forming reactions, thus producing hydrocarbons in a single-step process.”

Can you crack CO2?

A preferable approach is molecular dissociation, known as cracking. By electrolysis, CO2 can be cracked into solid carbon and oxygen gas, making treasure out of trash. Simultaneous electrolytic cracking of CO2 and water can produce syngas (CO + H2), which can be converted to liquid vehicle fuel.

Is the making of a hydrocarbon fuel from CO2 and water exothermic?

The combustion reaction Bond making is an exothermic process, while bond breaking is an endothermic process. Combustion reactions require oxygen. Fossil fuels are composed primarily of hydrocarbons, which are converted into carbon dioxide and water during a combustion reaction.

What is the conversion of CO2 and h2o into organic compounds using energy from light called?

Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is an anabolic pathway that converts carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds using energy from sunlight.

Can carbon dioxide be used as a fuel?

NASA has developed a new technology that can convert the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (C02) into fuel by using solar-powered, thin-film devices. This is accomplished by using solar power to convert the C02 into a useable fuel in a very compact device. …

How do you break co2 molecules?

The best existing technique to electrochemically break carbon dioxide into pieces that will chemically react uses a catalyst made of platinum. But platinum is a rare, expensive metal.

What happens to CO2 and H2O in photosynthesis?

During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) from the air and soil. This transforms the water into oxygen and the carbon dioxide into glucose. The plant then releases the oxygen back into the air, and stores energy within the glucose molecules.

How is CO2 recycled into hydrocarbon fuels?

CO2 is recycled into hydrocarbon fuels in a process based on: capturing CO2 from the atmosphere, high-temperature co-electrolysis of CO2 and H2O in a solid oxide cell to yield syngas (CO/H2 mixture), and catalytic fuel synthesis from the syngas. Source: Lenfest Center. Click to enlarge.

How can hydrocarbons reduce emissions from the transportation sector?

Electrolytic hydrocarbons have the ability to reduce emissions from the transportation sector by displacing fossil derived energy while providing the ability to reduce petroleum imports.

How can we improve co2-to-ethanol catalysis?

The CO2 -to-ethanol catalysis occurs on these tiny copper clusters. This finding is shedding light on ways to further improve the catalyst through rational design. “ We have prepared several new catalysts using this approach and found that they are all highly efficient in converting CO2 to other hydrocarbons,” said Liu.

How can hydrocarbons be made without fossil fuels?

Similar hydrocarbons can also be produced without using fossil fuels or biomass. Using renewable and/or nuclear energy (in the form of heat, electricity, and/or sunlight), carbon dioxide and water can be recycled into hydrocarbon fuels ( Fig. 1) in a non-biological process.