We are all aware of the fact that our fossil fuel sources are depleting day by day. This is the reason why scientists all over the world are trying to search for other fuel sources. Joel Rosenthal is one such chemist at the University of Delaware who is researching on the method of converting carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, to a gas that can be used as a source fuel in future.
The concept behind this research is that Joel Rosenthal along with his team is making electrocatalysts from metals such as nickel and palladium. These electrocatalysts give away electrons that react with carbon dioxide and reduce it to carbon monoxide and methanol.
According to Rosenthal, this process of converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide and methanol is an energy-storing process and not an energy-liberating process. He feels that this method will be beneficial because it deals with renewable sources of energy, unlike fossil fuel, which is non-renewable.
To pursue this research, Rosenthal has been selected to receive Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a consortium of 98 Ph.D.-granting universities. If this research is able to give successful results, it will have two benefits, first, it will help in the reduction of carbon dioxide from the environment, thereby, controlling global warming and second, it will provide a renewable source of fuel.
Source: Sciencedaily
