Scientists are using sunlight to convert greenhouse gases into valuable industrial chemicals.

Researchers in the US have developed a new method to convert two of the most harmful greenhouse gases, methane and carbon dioxide, into valuable chemicals using sunlight. 

This breakthrough, which could play a role in reducing emissions and offering sustainable production methods, is detailed in Nature Communications.

The team’s process, which utilises a mix of gold, palladium, and gallium nitride as a catalyst, turns methane and carbon dioxide into green methanol and carbon monoxide. 

These products are in high demand in the chemical and energy sectors.

Lead researcher Chao-Jun Li, from McGill University’s Department of Chemistry, explained that this process can be carried out at room temperature, avoiding the need for high heat or toxic chemicals that traditional methods require. 

“By tapping into the abundant energy of the sun, we can essentially recycle two greenhouse gases into useful products,” Li says. 

“Imagine a world where the exhaust from your car or emissions from a factory could be transformed, with the help of sunlight, into clean fuel for vehicles, the building blocks for everyday plastics, and energy stored in batteries,” added co-first author Hui Su.

The key to this transformation lies in the chemical process that mimics natural photosynthesis. 

When exposed to sunlight, the catalyst triggers a reaction where an oxygen atom from carbon dioxide attaches to a methane molecule, producing methanol. 

The reaction also produces carbon monoxide, a byproduct that can be utilised in various industrial applications.

This method offers a promising route towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and aligns with net-zero emissions goals.

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