Nano-spike catalysts convert carbon dioxide directly into ethanol

In a new twist to waste-to-fuel technology, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an electrochemical process that uses tiny spikes of carbon and copper to turn carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into ethanol. Their finding, which involves nanofabrication and catalysis science, was serendipitous. Learn more: https://www.ornl.gov/news/nano-spike-catalysts-convert-carbon-dioxide-directly-ethanol

If we reduce our use of fossil fuels, we will reduce the amount of extra carbon dioxide that we put into the atmosphere.

There are 2 ways to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels:
1) We make our processes more efficient
2) We replace the use of fossil fuels with other fuel supplies

Examples of improving efficiency is replacing filament lightbulbs with lower energy options such as LED lights, improving the efficiency of car by increasing the number of kilometres driven per litre of fuel, insulating houses better are just a few examples.

Replacing the use of fossil fuels would be a better solution. Some options for this is to use hydroelectricity, solar power, wind turbines, tidal power, wave power, nuclear energy and natural gas.

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24 thoughts on “Nano-spike catalysts convert carbon dioxide directly into ethanol”

  1. C₂H₅OH + 3O₂ <==> 2CO₂ + 3H₂O+ energy (1368,7kJ/mol)

    Conservation of mass and conservation of energy.

    We need more energy to produce ethanol than we get energy from burning this ethanol. After burning ethanol, we will emit carbon dioxide again. Discovery for the dummies.

    Reply
  2. So…CO2 and water (Ya gotta get the H somewhere.) yields C2H5OH by a process utilizing nanofabrication and catalysis? The narrator speaks of using the ethanol as a fuel for internal combustion engines. Wait a minute. He also speaks of “all the electricity that’s going into it”. Where’s the input electrical energy generated? How much energy does it take to produce the catalyst? And finally, combustion creates CO2 and heat. Hmmm…

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  3. Poem

    Co2 to Ethanol in Light of Peaceful Love
    By Henri Borno

    To Save A Globe
    Ageless Baby Youth Angel Goodness
    Heart blessed means success
    Still means the best
    Yet erect creating Ethanol from Carbon
    True love of life and all the brethren
    That Know Heaven as Christ and
    Peacefulness too from The UN
    And A Globe in The Togetherness

    We Evolved and kept like a science
    USA truly reliant reliable reliably
    Discovering the feat of us in happiness
    Letting a reversal of climate change
    To the good new day of us scientists Soul
    Fulfilled real like a healing healed feeling
    I know we know in We Are the holy You!
    You are the You Are as I am as you are

    We are the Star ever boundless
    Reminding the prayer that sent home addressed
    Address the address
    And freedom fate predestined holy debate
    Wait be patient after the success as us
    Of us
    Through us

    Ethanol from carbon dioxide
    The holy rest of this passed my test
    Yes!
    Courage is so smooth
    That Citizens from Haiti to Ghana smile
    When we make Union the Force
    And An honorably safe day
    This day in America
    With Barack Obama
    Our President today
    In Washington D.C.
    On January 7 2017
    He walked on The White House Lawn
    Saving the world from climate change
    Thought about carbon dioxide to ethanol
    Today.

    Reply
  4. If this isn't a hoax, it might very well do as much for climate change as Trump will do against it. Its broadscale, legally unhindered application around the world will do what science is all about: save it.

    Reply
  5. Has Thunderf00t made a video debunking this one yet?

    Lol, we already have a process for converting CO2 to ethanol. We call it "corn"

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  6. GRATE INVENTION FOR MAN KIND WHO ARE MAINLY WORKING IN DESERT WHERE THERE IS NO GREEN TREE , WHERE OXYGEN IN AIR IS LESS AND AMPLE CO2 IS GENERATING IN ENVIRONMENT DUE TO BURNING OF EXCESS DIFFERENT HYDRO CARBON GASES IN GAS PLANT & OIL REFINERY PLANT WHERE THERE IS NO NATURAL CONVERSION PROCESS OF CO2 IN TO OXYGEN DUE TO LACK OF GREEN TREES IN DESERT . – Hope this can be used in Desert Gas & Oil Plant .

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  7. People are reacting to this like it's the final product, the end game.. It's the beginning. It's the first step. This is where bigger ideas come from. There might be a way to power the spikes more efficient or increase the yield. We might see this in use in 20 years as something amazing. We didn't write off the wheel just because all it does it roll, did we? Someone's gonna come along and invent a wagon for it eventually. Or a car, or a train.. this is a great first step!

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  8. Awesome! I hope universities and other research institutions are replicating these results. I think the geometry of the nano spikes is key. i.e. varying the height distributions of the nano spikes will lead to different efficiencies and different end products (i.e. different fuels).

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  9. I'm amazed at all of the comedic comments that are posted. Some funny, others not so…the majority. This reflects the scientific aptitude of America today, yet this accidental discovery goes over the heads of most here, apparently. Despite it all, I think it's wonderful how nanoparticles have found a new possible use along with other breakthrough discoveries in our time by smart people everywhere. Humanity has an opportunity to either rise or fall depending on our serious pursuit of scientific discovery. Ayn Rand, "Who is John Galt?" comes to mind. Atlas Shrugged and people just thought, let me make a joke and smoke some more weed. Very interesting the comments. Few touch on the significance of such research however. Tells you something, maybe. In scientific circles, I'm sure, the discussion is of a much higher order among minds. As it should be. Besides, this is YT, where no one takes things seriously anymore. They just want attention, I guess. SMH

    Reply
  10. Trump supporters and the alt-right will go out of their way to make sure this technology is branded illegal and never allowed to be developed.

    They'll use the same "logic" they use to describe "chem-trails." The fear-mongering by the ignorant right will be enough to stymie any research on this technology.

    Burning toxic fossil fuels is the only answer, and we need to burn MORE to finish turning this world into the tropical paradise that all the alt-righties think it'll be!

    Reply
  11. So your answer is solar > ethanol -> tank -> generator engine -> grid instead of solar -> battery -> grid, or solar -> ethanol> tank > truck -> gas station instead of solar> grid-> EV? Please provide an energy flow chart because I am calling BS that there is ever a case where that is more efficient than current batteries for grid storage or EVs for transportation. This video and headlines around it are very misleading, you did not get around the first law of thermodynamics and get an energy dense alcohol out of just co2 and a catalyst, you are putting much more electricity in than you will ever get back as power in an ICE. This is probably no better than hydrolysis for H2 for fuel cell vehicles.

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  12. What you need now is how to capture that co2. My idea is a stable box that can support a vacuum, which has, on one side, has a filter that only let's carbon dioxide in. There should be a air vacuum pump place where you suck the air out and carbon dioxide comes in. Not through the pump, but through the filter.

    Reply

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