Scientists from NUST MISIS, the Institute of Biochemical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Skoltech have developed a technology that allows processing carbon dioxide into raw materials for fuel and the chemical industry.
We are talking about a "green" nanocatalyst capable of converting CO₂ into carbon monoxide — a key component for the production of liquid hydrocarbons and alcohols. In essence, emissions can be turned into a resource.
The development is based on iron and platinum nanoparticles fixed on a hexagonal boron nitride substrate. The scientists changed the structure of the material so that special defects appeared on its surface. They prevent the destruction of particles and allow the catalyst to maintain high activity for up to 50 hours.
In the process, the system behaves dynamically: the structure of the catalyst is partially rebuilt, creating new active zones. Thanks to this, not only simple compounds, but also hydrocarbons — in fact, fuel blanks — begin to form over time.
This approach opens up the possibility of not just capturing carbon dioxide, but processing it directly into useful substances without complex multi-stage processes.
The researchers hope that the technology will accelerate the development of "green" energy and help reduce the burden on the environment by turning CO₂ from a problem into a resource.