Czech researchers develop advanced photocathode to produce ethanol from sunlight
In the Czech Republic, Czech researchers from Charles University, Prague, have developed an advanced photocathode that helps convert the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into pure ethanol using sunlight. The new technology solves a long-standing problem of material degradation in water, achieves record conversion efficiency, and opens the way toward sustainable production of green fuels.
In laboratory tests, the new photocathode achieved a record solar-energy-to-ethanol conversion efficiency of 2,74 %. A crucial improvement is the formation of only a single product. While other systems often produce a mixture of byproducts, the material designed by the research team produces pure ethanol as its sole liquid product, which significantly simplifies its potential industrial application.
Category: Research
