Using copper to convert CO₂ to methane could be game changer in mitigating climate change

One major cause of climate change is carbon in the atmosphere. Researchers at McGill University have developed a new catalyst using tiny copper particles, called nanoclusters, to convert CO₂ into methane, a greener energy source. This new method, called electrocatalysis, creates methane without adding more CO2 to the atmosphere, unlike traditional methods.

“You can use solar power on sunny days or wind power on windy days to produce renewable electricity, but you have to use it right away,” explains Mahdi Salehi, a Ph.D. candidate at McGill University’s Electrocatalysis Lab. “With this technique, we can store energy in molecules like methane with that renewable electricity.”

Salehi says that carbon dioxide from the atmosphere can be turned into methane using copper nanoclusters. Any carbon dioxide released when the methane is used can be captured and converted back into methane, creating a closed “carbon loop” that prevents new carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. This research, published in Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, was supported by the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Light Source (CLS).

We used copper catalysts of different sizes, from 19 atoms to 1000 atoms,” said Salehi. “We then tested them in the lab to see how the size affected the reaction.

Our main finding is that tiny copper nanoclusters are great at making methane, says Salehi. This proves that the size and structure of these nanoclusters really matter for the reaction.

Team plans to explore industrial uses for their catalyst and keep improving it for better efficiency. Their research could lead to new ways to produce clean, sustainable energy.

Benefits of Methane as Renewable Energy Source

There are several advantages of methane as a renewable energy source, for it is highly flammable. One of the key strengths is that renewable electricity can be stored effectively. The sources of renewable energy such as sunlight and wind tend to fluctuate their power output, generating electricity only when the sun shines or the wind blows. As a result, this new technology turns excess flow of renewable electric energy into methane which is kept for use in future, hence ensuring a more stable and predictable supply of power.

Another important benefit of using methane as a renewable energy source is that it creates a sustainable ‘carbon loop’. The process involves the continuous conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4) using copper based catalysts. Afterward, methane can be used as fuel with CO2 being released as by product which can be captured and converted back to methane. This greatly reduces fresh CO2 being released into the atmosphere making it an efficient way to mitigate climate change.

In addition, practicality of these technologies has implications for energy infrastructure. With methane as a substitute, existing natural gas pipelines and storage facilities can be re-purposed thus making it possible to shift seamlessly into a sustainable energy system without massive funding requirements. This reduces the cost and facilitates faster deployment of renewable energy solutions.

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Methane is an additional renewable source of energy that may lead to reduced dependence on imports by some countries and subsequent energetics autonomy. Regions endowed with large amounts of renewable resources can generate their own power while also storing it thereby minimizing their use of imported fossil fuels. It therefore improves the stability of national power systems enhancing local economies at the same time.