Scientists Accidentally Discover Efficient Process to Turn CO2 Into Ethanol

[lockedout]

Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee have discovered a chemical reaction to turn CO2 into ethanol, potentially creating a new technology to help avert climate change. Their findings were published in the journal ChemistrySelect.

The researchers were attempting to find a series of chemical reactions that could turn CO2 into a useful fuel, when they realized the first step in their process managed to do it all by itself. The reaction turns CO2 into ethanol, which could in turn be used to power generators and vehicles.

The tech involves a new combination of copper and carbon arranged into nanospikes on a silicon surface. The nanotechnology allows the reactions to be very precise, with very few contaminants.

"By using common materials, but arranging them with nanotechnology, we figured out how to limit the side reactions and end up with the one thing that we want," said Adam Rondinone.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/scie...-into-ethanol/

[Celista]

That is fantastic news.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

That is fantastic news.

500 more years added onto Earth

[Berengil]

This seems too good to be true, but gddmn if it is true...

The only better energy news would be the perfection of cold fusion.

[crazymack]

I'm wondering what type of nanotechnology was required to control these reactions. If it is not material we can burn to create said nanotechnology, how easy will it be to mass produce?

[Deleted]

Embedded YouTube videos > long, boring third party site articles any day. This is the video from that article, that is.

[Deleted]

SO, with Geo-engineering aka this



Can you make napalm looks like a newborn ?


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_engineering

[Mafic]

This is a good discovery.

[Bethrezen]

Very nice discovery! Yay science!

[Tetrad]

What's the return vs energy input?
Because for example that plastic from air crap is possible but was massively inefficient.

[Deleted]

What's the return vs energy input?
Because for example that plastic from air crap is possible but was massively inefficient.

I'm pretty sure the video went over that. Also, what's the return in saving this planet for future generations by thwarting climate change?

[Breccia]

"By using common materials, but arranging them with nanotechnology"

You know. 10 years ago I would have dismissed a line like that as sci-fi bullshit.

But now...

Man. We live in fascinating times.

[Gref]

Thank God!!! \o/

ups?

*seriously awesome news, wish i could be a part of that research team, the excitement must be great among them upon discovery as if it is applied wholly, it can change the world a lot.

[Provenance]

Home of the Manhattan Project nonetheless!