Research & Development World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Semiconductors
  • Controlled Environments
    • Cleanrooms
    • Graphene
    • Lasers
    • Regulations/Standards
    • Sensors
  • Scientific Computing
    • Big Data
    • HPC/Supercomputing
    • Informatics
    • Security
    • Software
  • R&D 100 Awards
    • ENTER NOW
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
    • R&D 100 Conference
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • 2021 Funding Forecast
  • COVID-19

Cutting-edge catalyst converts water and co2 into hydrocarbons for gasoline

By Heather Hall | April 5, 2021

By Karen K Dunlap, ORNL

ORNL researchers have developed an electrocatalyst made of custom-designed alloy nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanospikes. This image, made with a transmission electron microscope, shows the carbon nanospikes. Credit: Adam Rondinone and Dale Hensley/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

In a new twist to an existing award-winning ORNL technology, researchers have developed an electrocatalyst that enables water and carbon dioxide to be split and the atoms recombined to form higher weight hydrocarbons for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

The technology is a carbon nanospike catalyst that uses nanoparticles of a custom-designed alloy, which has been licensed by California-based Prometheus Fuels. The spiky textured surface of the catalysts provides ample reactive sites to facilitate the carbon dioxide-to-hydrocarbons conversion.

“This cutting-edge catalyst will enable us to further lower the price of our zero net carbon fuels,” said Rob McGinnis, CEO and founder of Prometheus.

The company plans to use the technology in its process for converting electricity from solar and wind into chemical energy to make zero net carbon electrofuels.

The carbon nanospike catalyst was invented using a one-of-a-kind nanofabrication instrument and staff expertise at ORNL’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

DOE announces $61.4M for biofuels research to reduce transportation emissions
U.S. Department of Energy announces $24.5M for manufacturing innovation to build a clean, resilient electric grid
SwRI researchers test natural gas foam’s ability to reduce water use in fracking
R&D 100 winner of the day: Electric Thermal Energy Storage – Key Element for the Energy Transition

Need R&D World news in a minute?

We Deliver!
R&D World Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need in research and development. Sign up today.
Enews Signup
Tweets by @RandDWorld

R&D World Digital Issues

February 2020 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R& magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • 2021 Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2021 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Semiconductors
  • Controlled Environments
    • Cleanrooms
    • Graphene
    • Lasers
    • Regulations/Standards
    • Sensors
  • Scientific Computing
    • Big Data
    • HPC/Supercomputing
    • Informatics
    • Security
    • Software
  • R&D 100 Awards
    • ENTER NOW
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
    • R&D 100 Conference
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • 2021 Funding Forecast
  • COVID-19