Yale researchers have developed a new method that combines plasma and electrocatalysis to convert CO₂ into useful chemicals and fuels. The plasma breaks apart the strong carbon-oxygen bonds in CO₂, while a copper-based electrocatalyst uses the activated molecules to produce more complex products such as methanol and butane.
“And it’s a turnkey process,” she said. “You can switch it on or shut it off at will based on when electricity is available. It can also operate directly with intermittent renewable electricity, so we could see retrofitting an existing plant, and then you don’t need to build an entire new factory around it.” – Professor Lea Winter
The key innovation is a three-phase interface using a gas-diffusion membrane that allows gas, liquid, and solid components to interact while keeping the plasma and water separated. This prevents water from neutralizing the reactive plasma species and enables the activated CO₂ to reach the catalyst more effectively. The researchers achieved high production rates of valuable alcohols and three- and four-carbon products.
The technology could potentially help store renewable energy and produce sustainable fuels and industrial chemicals, including precursors for sustainable aviation fuel. Because the system operates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and can be switched on or off depending on electricity availability, the researchers say it could potentially be scaled or integrated with intermittent renewable power.
