Using Carbon to Decarbonise the World

By now, we all know carbon dioxide (CO2) isn’t great for our planet – it’s a major cause of global warming. But what if I told you there’s a way to fight CO2 emissions using carbon itself? It might sound surprising, but chemical engineers have developed something called a carbon catalyst that actually helps reduce CO2 emissions.

What’s a carbon catalyst?

Carbon is a chemical element found in all living organisms and in the air as CO2 gas. A catalyst is an added substance to a chemical reaction that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up itself. It does this by offering easier paths for the reaction to occur. Using catalysts helps scientists perform reactions faster and with fewer resources, making the process more efficient.

Traditionally, catalysts used in reactions for renewable energy and making chemicals, like hydrogen peroxide that’s used for cleaning wastewater, rely on rare minerals that are costly to mine. Researchers are now exploring carbon catalysts for these processes instead as carbon is widely available on Earth. This approach is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than mining for rare minerals.

How are chemical engineers using carbon catalysts to reduce emissions?

At the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation (ARC COE-CSI), our researchers are using these carbon catalysts to generate renewable energy. They’re exploring how carbon from Australia’s organic waste, as well seawater and sunlight, can make hydrogen (H2) fuel for cars which is much better for the environment than fossil fuels.

They’re also using carbon catalysts to make important chemicals in an environmentally friendly way. For example, they’re exploring ways to use carbon catalysts to produce ammonia fertilisers used in farming without harming the environment.

Thanks to our researchers’ discovery that carbon is an excellent catalyst, we’re advancing Australia’s renewable energy technologies and creating cleaner ways to produce chemicals. These innovations will play an important role in significantly lowering our CO2 emissions.

Find out more on our website.