Scientists have figured out how to slow down global warming

Post-graduate students and young teachers of NUST MISiS, Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov and the Institute of Organic Chemistry. N. D. Zelinsky RAS developed a catalyst sample that is capable of processing carbon dioxide. According to the authors of the invention, this will slow down global warming on the planet. In addition, useful products of carbon dioxide processing can be: synthesis gases, alcohols and various hydrocarbons. All this is widely used in the chemical industry.

“Our catalysts are a bulk alloy with a porous surface and nanosized grains that form highly active foam particles. Due to this structure and the synergistic interaction of Co with Ni, the catalysts are characterized by a more intense interaction with CO molecules.₂ and high stability compared to commercially applied analogues (active element dispersed on a ceramic carrier)”, – explained Sergey Roslyakov, senior researcher at NUST MISiS.

According to the scientists, they were concerned about solving three problems: studying the possibilities of complete utilization of carbon dioxide, which increases the greenhouse effect on the planet, as well as simplifying the production of efficient catalysts and creating catalysts based on available raw materials.

“A distinctive feature of our work is the quick and simple synthesis of the material by burning active gels. In our approach, it is enough to apply a small amount of energy to heat a small volume of the sample, up to one cubic millimeter, and then the synthesis proceeds in a self-sustaining mode without additional energy consumption,” Roslyakov said.

The use of non-standard synthesis methods has significantly reduced energy and resource costs in the production and use of catalysts. Cobalt, according to the authors of the study, contributes to the formation of a porous framework structure of the catalyst, and also increases the catalytic properties of nickel threefold.

Since the entire volume of the catalyst consists of a metal alloy, it has a much higher thermal conductivity compared to ceramic supports.. As explained by the experts, this significantly increases the stability of the material during long-term use.

“We have simplified the method of preparing materials, avoiding long and non-trivial stages of melting, spraying, cleaning, applying active components to a structure-forming carrier, and others. Despite the simplified synthesis process and catalyst composition, we have obtained a competitive technology for catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide,” – Roslyakov noted.

In the future, the research team intends to continue the search for new efficient and stable catalysts.

The study was carried out under a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (grant no. 20-79-10257).

Mona Platonov.

Photo by Sergey Vedyashkin / Moskva Agency