'Garbage' CO2 conversion into fuel

'Garbage' CO2 conversion into fuel Two efficient ways found to convert CO2 into energy-rich by-products Carbon dioxide (CO2) is society’s ultimate waste product, with billions of tons of the stuff injected into the air every year. But recycling it into valuable fuels and chemicals has always required too much energy to make financial sense. Now, researchers have found two efficient ways to convert CO2 into energy-rich by-products, they reported last week here at a meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). If they gain traction, they could help solve another pressing problem: Because both approaches require a steady stream of electrons from a source of electricity, they could siphon up all the ‘lost’ solar and wind energy that can’t currently be stored in electric grids. To recycle CO2, some researchers are mimicking photosynthesis, harnessing sunlight to convert the molecule into carbohydrates. But these solar fuel reactors often need to run at 1000 °C. Other ...