A group of scientists has developed a solar machine that absorbs CO2. That is, it is a reactor that extracts carbon dioxide directly from the air and converts it into a sustainable fuel.
To achieve this, it uses solar light as an energy source. It also does not require cables or any other type of batteries.
The team responsible for this includes Sayan Kar and Erwin Reisner, both from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
The solar machine that absorbs CO2
According to the researchers, the device could be used in the production of fuels for cars and airplanes, as well as other useful chemicals and even some pharmaceuticals.
Unlike most carbon dioxide capture devices, this reactor does not require energy based on fossil fuels or the transportation and storage of CO2.
Instead, it converts the gas in situ using only solar light.
Furthermore, it is much easier to scale to an industrial level than other solar-powered devices of its kind.
Capturing CO2, a hope?
Capturing and burying CO2 with the hope that it remains immobilized forever has been considered as a possible solution to the climate crisis.
However, it is very energy-consuming, and there are also doubts about the long-term safety of storing CO2 under pressure underground.
Therefore, this new device seeks an alternative. “What if instead of pumping carbon dioxide underground, we did something useful with it? CO2 is a harmful greenhouse gas, but it can also be converted into useful chemicals without contributing to global warming,” Kar suggests.
The prototype for capturing and converting CO2 takes it directly from the air and converts it into synthesis gas or syngas. This is a fuel that also serves as a key intermediary in the production of many useful chemicals.
How it works
The device uses specialized filters to capture CO2 from the air during the night, similar to how a sponge absorbs water. When the sun rises, the captured CO2 is heated by solar light, and a semiconductor powder absorbs ultraviolet radiation to start a chemical reaction that converts the captured CO2 into syngas.
Additionally, a mirror in the reactor concentrates solar light, increasing the efficiency of the process.
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