Sun-simulated-driven production of high-purity methanol from carbon dioxide

Jiqing Jiao (), Yanbin Ma, Xiaoqian Han, Awu Ergu, Chao Zhang, Pingping Chen, Wei Liu, Qiquan Luo, Zhaolin Shi, Han Xu, Chen Chen, Yaguang Li () and Tongbu Lu ()
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Jiqing Jiao: Tianjin University of Technology
Yanbin Ma: Tianjin University of Technology
Xiaoqian Han: Tianjin University of Technology
Awu Ergu: Anhui University
Chao Zhang: Tianjin University of Technology
Pingping Chen: Tianjin University of Technology
Wei Liu: Dalian University of Technology
Qiquan Luo: Anhui University
Zhaolin Shi: Tianjin University of Technology
Han Xu: Tianjin University of Technology
Chen Chen: Tsinghua University
Yaguang Li: Hebei University
Tongbu Lu: Tianjin University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract CO2 conversion to CH3OH under mild conditions is of particular interest yet rather challenging. Both electro- and thermo-catalytic CO2 reduction to CH3OH can only produce CH3OH in low concentration (typically mixed with water), requiring energy-intensive purification processes. Here we design a sun-simulated-driven tandem catalytic system comprising CO2 electroreduction to syngas, and further photothermal conversion into high-purity CH3OH (volume fraction > 97%). We construct a self-supporting electrocatalyst featuring dual active sites of Ni single atoms and encapsulated Co nanoparticles, which could produce syngas with a constant H2:CO ratio of ~2 via solar-powered CO2 electroreduction. The generated syngas is subsequently fed into the photothermal module, which could produce high-purity CH3OH under 1 sun-light irradiation, with a rate of 0.238 gCH3OH gcat–1 h–1. This work demonstrates a feasible and sustainable route for directly converting CO2 into high-purity CH3OH.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56101-8

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