Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Hydrocarbon Fuel Using Ternary Metal Oxide on Graphene as 2D Platform

ORAU Grant

The aims of this project are to synthesize and characterize a hybrid material platform system based on ternary metal oxide nanostructures and graphene. Graphene is a novel carbon material with favorable thermal and mechanical properties. The expected outcome is a nanomaterial which can be used to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) to hydrocarbon fuel (methane) via a photocatalytic reactor. This project is significant because it focuses on a two-pronged method of producing fuel by harnessing renewable energy from sunlight which concurrently reduces the impact of CO2. This novel method is a form of artificial photosynthesis conducted under ambient temperature and pressure via the following reaction: CO2 + water → hydrocarbon + oxygen.