Illinois researchers identify family of catalysts that converts CO2 into chemicals

In Illinois, in a collaborative project involving the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, Northern Illinois University and Valparaiso University scientists report a family of catalysts that efficiently converts CO2 into ethanol, acetic acid or formic acid. These liquid hydrocarbons are among the most produced chemicals in the U.S. and are found in many commercial products. For example, ethanol is a key ingredient in numerous household products and an additive to nearly all U.S. gasoline. The work is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The catalysts are based on tin metal deposited over a carbon support.