Highly efficient and autocatalytic H 2 O dissociation for CO 2 reduction into formic acid with zinc

Abstract

Artificial photosynthesis, specifically H 2 O dissociation for CO 2 reduction with solar energy, is regarded as one of the most promising methods for sustainable energy and utilisation of environmental resources. However, a highly efficient conversion still remains extremely challenging. The hydrogenation of CO 2 is regarded as the most commercially feasible method, but this method requires either exotic catalysts or high-purity hydrogen and hydrogen storage, which are regarded as an energy-intensive process. Here we report a highly efficient method of H 2 O dissociation for reducing CO 2 into chemicals with Zn powder that produces formic acid with a high yield of approximately 80%, and this reaction is revealed for the first time as an autocatalytic process in which an active intermediate, ZnH â ̂' complex, serves as the active hydrogen. The proposed process can assist in developing a new concept for improving artificial photosynthetic efficiency by coupling geochemistry, specifically the metal-based reduction of H 2 O and CO 2, with solar-driven thermochemistry for reducing metal oxide into metal.