Chinese team develops efficient CO2-splitting process for oxygen

Researchers in China have developed a new process to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This process splits CO2 into carbon and oxygen using electrochemical methods. The team from Nanjing University, led by Ping He and Haoshen Zhou, worked with a collaborator from Fudan University. Their study was published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. The method could be useful for space missions and underwater applications because it does not require extreme conditions. Currently, plants convert CO2 into oxygen, but their efficiency is limited. Plants rely on water for oxygen production, not directly from CO2. The new method uses lithium as a mediator instead of hydrogen. The team built an electrochemical device that uses a gas cathode and a lithium anode. When CO2 is fed into the device, a two-step reaction takes place. It first produces lithium carbonate, which further reacts to create lithium oxide and elemental carbon. The lithium oxide is then converted into lithium ions and oxygen gas. The process is efficient, generating over 98.6% oxygen. The team tested it using pure CO2 as well as mixed gases, including simulated Martian conditions. Mars has a thin atmosphere mostly made up of CO2. This innovative method could play a role in achieving carbon neutrality if powered by renewable energy. It has many potential applications, such as providing oxygen for spacesuits, supporting underwater life, purifying indoor air, and treating industrial waste.