Revolutionizing Climate Action: Copper-Based Catalyst Converts CO₂ to Methane, Paving the Path to a Carbon-Neutral Future.

Researchers from McGill University have engineered a novel catalyst capable of converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into methane, a cleaner energy source, using tiny bits of copper known as nanoclusters. Unlike traditional methane production methods that exacerbate CO₂ emissions, this new process, known as electrocatalysis, offers a sustainable alternative.

Methane can be used to store energy

“On sunny days you can use solar power, or when it’s a windy day you can use that wind to produce renewable electricity, but as soon as you produce that electricity you need to use it,” explains Mahdi Salehi, a Ph.D. candidate at McGill University’s Electrocatalysis Lab. “But in our case, we can use that renewable but intermittent electricity to store the energy in chemicals like methane.”

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This innovative approach leverages the unique properties of copper nanoclusters to transform atmospheric CO₂ into methane, effectively creating a closed-loop system. This process ensures that the carbon dioxide released when methane is used can be captured and reconverted into methane, thereby preventing additional CO₂ emissions.

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The research, recently published in the journal Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, was made possible by the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

“Our top finding was that extremely small copper nanoclusters are very effective at producing methane,” Salehi reports. “This was a significant discovery, indicating that the size and structure of the copper nanoclusters play a crucial role in the reaction’s outcome.”

Looking ahead, the team plans to enhance the efficiency of their catalyst and explore its potential for large-scale industrial applications, with the hope that their work will unlock new pathways for sustainable energy production.