Scientists in the US Department of Energy- Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee have accidentally discovered a method to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol for use as a fuel for internal-combustion motors.

What happened?

Scientists were trying to study the first step of a proposed reaction but they realized that the catalyst was doing the entire reaction on its own. By putting copper and carbon together to create manospikes on silicon exposing matter to carbon dioxide dissolved in water and electrifying it and the solution was transformed into a highly concentrated blend of ethanol. This newfound ability to recycle the greenhouse gas could potentially help slow global warming. Currently, the research behind this new process is still in the early stages. The scientists are continuing to study the method to make it even more efficient and to learn more about how it could be put to use in a large-scale operation. Read more