In the new network News University of Texas researchers said on the 25th, with the copper oxide nanorods and sun, they are doing with carbon dioxide to produce the liquid methanol groundbreaking research. Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Affairs of the University of Texas, Christopher of Sinan Raj Sivori past greenhouse gases into useful products, compared them to try new ways to be more safe, simple and inexpensive.

　　The Raj Xiwo is a well-known chemistry and biochemistry professor, is also one of the founders of the University of Texas at Arlington Renewable Energy, Science and Technology Center (CREST). He said that at present the use of greenhouse gas production of methanol catalyst, as well as high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. Some methods require toxic elements (such as cadmium) or rare earth elements (such as tellurium). He also believes that as long as people use fossil fuels, it will always be faced with the problem of how to deal with carbon dioxide. The concern is greenhouse gas into liquid fuel, which is the choice of the value-added potential.

　　The researchers first coated the surface of the copper oxide (CuO) nanorods cuprous oxide (Cu2O) microcrystalline. Then in the laboratory, they will be composed of two kinds of copper oxide nanorod array immersed in the aqueous solution enriched in carbon dioxide, and using the artificial sunlight irradiation photoelectric chemical reaction occurs in the aqueous solution of carbon dioxide conversion into methanol. Recently retired associate professor Takekuni experiments, they chose two copper oxides because they both have optical activity, absorption of sunlight was complementary.

　　Vice-Chancellor of the University of Texas, Carolyn Carson said, to meet the future energy needs of the University of Texas at Arlington scientists own research work is closely linked with the reality of social problems and seeking to prevent greenhouse gas hurt society, hope they experiment way received for the use of carbon dioxide is only a new beginning.

　　In addition to the "chemical communication" was published outside to Raj Xiwo their paper, the new Chemical and Engineering News special reports new research. Reported that Raj Sivori they completed the experiment to produce to the methanol electrochemical efficiency up to 95%, and at the same time be able to avoid the phenomenon of over-voltage of the other methods.

　　The researchers said that for fuel, methanol is also widely used in chemical processing, including the production of plastics, adhesives, organic solvents, and sewage treatment. In the United States, a total of 18 methanol annual output of more than 26 billion gallons of production plants.