Is it possible to split co2

Tin oxide suppresses the generation of side-products, which are commonly observed from copper oxide catalysts, leading to the sole production of CO in the electroreduction of CO 2. Importantly, the system uses the same catalyst as the cathode that reduces CO 2 to CO and the anode that oxidizes water to oxygen through what is known as the "oxygen evolution reaction.

Using only Earth-abundant materials to catalyze both reactions, this design keeps the cost of the system low. The system was able to selectively convert CO 2 to CO with an efficiency of It included a contribution from Abengoa Research in Spain. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. November 12, November 11, UConn Today.

News Series. Archives Contact Us. UConn University of Connecticut. One such industrial application could be set up at the Climeworks plant in Zurich in Switzerland, where scientists are aiming to capture carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into fertiliser. If experts can figure out a way to effectively trap the CO2 that's being pulled in, then we now have a way of turning that into fuel very efficiently.

We've got a long way to go before we can be confident of slowing the changes that are happening to our planet, but developments like this give us hope for the future. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter.