Swiss researchers develop breakthrough catalyst for green chemical production from CO2
In Switzerland, chemists from ETH Zurich have achieved a breakthrough in catalysis research on multiple levels:
· They have developed a catalyst that significantly lowers the energy barrier for the production of methanol – an alcohol – from the greenhouse gas CO2 and hydrogen.
· In their catalyst, the researchers use the metal indium in an extremely efficient manner – in the sense that each individual indium atom behaves as an active site.
· In the past, catalysis research often followed a “hit or miss” approach. The newly discovered catalyst allows more precise analysis of the mechanisms taking place on its surface, paving the way for rational catalyst design.
Category: Research
