Harnessing the vast potential of carbon dioxide for transforming methanol into sugar using sunlight as energy
In a series of groundbreaking developments, scientists from various institutions are making significant strides in converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into sustainable fuels and chemicals.
Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Cambridge unveiled a solar-powered reactor that pulls CO2 directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuel using sunlight as the power source. The solar-powered reactor holds promise for producing fuel for cars and planes, as well as chemicals and pharmaceutical products.
Meanwhile, Chinese scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed a method to convert CO2 into methanol, a liquid state compound that offers easy storage and transportation, making it increasingly attractive as a hydrogen carrier and fuel cell energy source. The innovation involves a copper catalyst that selectively produces methanol, achieving an 86% conversion rate, which is among the highest reported for copper-based catalysts.
The conversion of CO2 directly into methanol supports sustainable resource utilisation and offers a pathway to reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, the method developed by the Chinese scientists can be adapted to make other complex carbohydrates, including fructose and starch.
On a separate note, a research team affiliated with the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in Korea, led by Professor Jungki Ryu, has made a significant breakthrough in sustainable technology. Professor Ryu stated that methanol is a critical industrial raw material and energy source consumed worldwide in the millions of tonnes annually.
In another development, Chinese scientists at Tianjan Institute of Industrial Biotechnology and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have developed a method to convert methanol into white sugar. This innovation could potentially revolutionise the sugar industry, making it more sustainable and carbon-neutral.
The traditional conversion methods often produce mixtures containing undesired byproducts such as hydrogen and methane, necessitating complex purification processes. However, the new methods developed by these researchers aim to address this issue, offering a cleaner and more efficient approach to CO2 conversion.
At the European CO2 Summit 2025 in April, a panel of direct air capture pioneers discussed the future of the technology, the hurdles to overcome, and how modular design and operational data are opening up a pathway to commercial scale. Meanwhile, Bjorn Utgard, Vice-President of Strategy in EMEA at Skytree, discussed CO2 utilisation versus sequestration on gas world's CCUS: Turning Carbon into Opportunity webinar.
Dr Sayan Kar from Cambridge's Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry stated that if these devices were made at scale, they could solve two problems at once: removing CO2 from the atmosphere and creating a clean alternative to fossil fuels. With these advancements, the future of sustainable energy and chemical production seems promising.
