Molecular Catalyst Achieves CO_₂ Conversion At Atmospheric Levels

ICIQ researchers demonstrate electrocatalysis that turns carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide without energy‑intensive capture, paving the way for simpler, renewable‑powered processes

Researchers at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) have published a study in Angewandte Chemie International Edition describing a molecular catalyst that can convert carbon dioxide (CO_₂) into carbon monoxide (CO) even when CO_₂ is present at very low levels. This breakthrough could make CO_₂ conversion more energy‑efficient by avoiding the costly step of capturing and concentrating the gas.

The team, led by Prof. Julio Lloret‑Fillol, developed a manganese-based catalyst that works in an electrochemical process powered by electricity. Unlike most systems, which need high CO_₂ concentrations, this catalyst remains active even at atmospheric levels (around 420 ppm). It achieves almost 100% efficiency in turning CO_₂ into CO and keeps performance above 90% across a wide range of concentrations.

“We showed that an earth-abundant molecular manganese catalyst can keep working even when CO_₂ is almost as low as in the air,” explains Mattia Vettori, first author of the paper. “Understanding how the reaction behaves in these highly demanding conditions is key for future applications.”

Most industrial CO_₂ streams, such as flue gases, are dilute and mixed with impurities, making them hard to use. Current methods often require separate capture and concentration, which consumes a lot of energy. If CO_₂ can be converted directly at low concentrations, the process becomes simpler and cheaper. This approach could help reduce emissions and create useful chemicals using renewable electricity.

“Demonstrating molecular electrocatalysis at atmospheric CO_₂ opens a practical path towards simpler, more energy‑efficient processes,” says Prof. Lloret‑Fillol. “If capture and conversion can be integrated under mild conditions, we can rethink how low‑value CO_₂ streams are upgraded using renewable electricity.”

Electrocatalysis uses a catalyst to speed up a chemical reaction powered by electricity. In this case, electricity helps convert CO_₂ into CO, which is an important building block for fuels and chemicals. The key challenge is doing this efficiently, especially when CO_₂ is scarce. High Faradaic efficiency, a measure of how well the electric charge is used, shows that this catalyst makes the most of the energy supplied.