Researchers in Kiel convert CO₂ into methane – newly developed catalyst outperforms industrial materials.
Researchers in Kiel convert CO₂ into methane – newly developed catalyst outperforms industrial materials.
The energy transition requires not only new sources but also efficient ways to store and transport energy. Scientists at Kiel University (CAU) have now developed a novel catalyst that can convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) – one of the most important greenhouse gases – into methane. This gas serves as a versatile energy carrier and can be directly fed into existing natural gas networks. The new catalyst is inexpensive, durable, and performs better than industrially used materials. The findings have just been published in ChemSusChem, a journal focusing on sustainable chemistry.
Power-to-Gas: Storing CO₂ as Methane
The underlying Power-to-Gas (PtG) concept stores renewable energy in chemical form. Using electricity, researchers first generate hydrogen and then react it with CO₂ to form methane. “Under real-world conditions, the reaction mixture fluctuates due to varying electricity supply from wind and solar energy. We therefore need catalysts that perform reliably even under such variable conditions,” says Professor Malte Behrens from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at Kiel University, who leads the Kiel subproject within the DFG Priority Program SPP 2080.
Read More: Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel
Image: The image shows the catalyst particles on the nanoscale after the reaction. Elemental differences were visualized using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX): The metallic nickel particles (green) are separated and stabilized by magnesium-rich regions (blue). (Credit: © Dr. Ulrich Schürmann, TEM Centre, Uni Kiel)
