Issue 31/2014 - USA develops a new method for carbon dioxide to formic acid

Andrew and Liquid Light Inc researchers have worked together to devise an effective way
to use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into formic acid, a potential alternative fuel.
The energy generated by commercial solar panels provided by the American Electric Gas Public Service (PSE&G) converts carbon dioxide and water into formic acid
.

Andrew said that this electrochemical process takes place in the battery, and in order to maximize the efficiency of this system, the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel must match the amount of electricity that the electrochemical cell can handle, and this optimization process is called impedance matching
.
By stacking the three electrochemical cells on top of each other, the team was able to achieve energy efficiency of nearly 2 percent, twice the photosynthetic efficiency in nature and the best energy efficiency report
to date using man-made equipment.
(Xiaohua)