Researchers at the University of Queensland have built a generator that absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce electricity.
Dr Zhu Yuan Wang from the UQ Dow Center for Sustainable Engineering Innovation says the small proof-of-concept nanogenerator is carbon negative because it consumes greenhouse gases.
The technology developed by UQ absorbs carbon dioxide and generates electricity. Image credit: University of Queensland “This nanogenerator is made up of two components: a polyamine gel already used by industry to absorb CO2 and a skeleton of a few atoms thick of boron nitrate which generates positive and negative ions” , said Dr. Wang. Image credit: University of Queensland
“This nanogenerator is composed of two components: a polyamine gel already used by industry to absorb CO2 and a boron nitrate skeleton a few atoms thick which generates positive and negative ions,” said Dr. Wang .
“We figured out how to make positive ions much larger than negative ions, and because the different sizes move at different speeds, they generate a diffusion current that can be amplified into electricity to power light bulbs or any electronic device.
“In nature and in the human body, ion transport is the most efficient energy conversion – more efficient than the electron transport used in the power grid. »
Both components were incorporated into a hydrogel made of 90% water, cut into 4-centimeter discs and small rectangles, and then tested in a sealed box filled with CO2.
“When we saw electrical signals coming out, I was very excited but afraid I had made a mistake,” Dr. Wang said.
“I checked everything and everything was working properly, so I started dreaming of changing the world with this technology.
“This technology goes further than carbon neutrality: it consumes CO2 because it generates energy.
“Currently, we can recover about 1% of the total energy inherently carried by CO2 gas, but like other technologies, we will now work to improve efficiency and reduce costs . »
Director of the Dow Center, Professor Xiwang ZhangAccording to the success of laboratory tests, there are two potential applications for the nanogenerator in the future.
“We could make a slightly larger portable device that would produce electricity to power a cell phone or laptop using CO2 from the atmosphere,” Professor Zhang said.
“A second application, on a much larger scale, would integrate this technology into an industrial CO2 capture process to recover electricity. »
Development of the nanogenerator will continue through GETCO2, the ARC Center of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide, led by UQ. School of Chemical Engineering with Professor Zhang as director.
“We want to raise awareness of the value of a problematic greenhouse gas and change the perception of CO2,” said Professor Zhang.
“Until now, CO2 was considered a problem to be solved, but it can be a resource for the future. »
The research was published in Natural Communications.
Source: University of Queensland
Originally published in The European Times.
source link eu news
