{
  "id": 102456,
  "title": "Researchers develop a new catalyst to convert CO₂ into ethanol using electricity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/researchers-develop-a-new-catalyst-to-convert-co2-into-ethanol-using",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-03T20:06:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-catalyst-ethanol-electricity.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists from Sungkyunkwan University have created a novel catalyst that transforms carbon dioxide into ethanol using electrical energy. Led by Professor Hyoyoung Lee, the research team published their findings in Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy. Carbon dioxide, a primary greenhouse gas, can be repurposed as a carbon source for manufacturing fuels and chemicals. Ethanol serves as a renewable fuel, solvent, disinfectant, and industrial raw material. Existing CO2 conversion systems, however, generate numerous unwanted byproducts, necessitating energy-consuming separation and purification steps. To address this issue, the researchers developed a catalyst featuring copper and zinc atoms placed in direct proximity on a carbon support. At this minuscule scale, the metals collaborate: zinc assists in preparing crucial reaction intermediates, while copper stimulates the formation of carbon-carbon bonds essential for ethanol production. This integrated structure guides the reaction more effectively toward ethanol while minimizing the generation of other products. The catalyst demonstrated a 69% ethanol Faradaic efficiency in a membrane-electrode assembly system. The study reveals a new catalyst design approach centered on manipulating reactions at the atomic level. With potential enhancements in current density, energy efficiency, product concentration, and long-term stability, this method could facilitate the electrochemical conversion of captured CO2 into valuable liquid fuels and chemical feedstocks.",
  "summary": "A research team led by Professor Hyoyoung Lee of the Department of Chemistry at Sungkyunkwan University has developed a new catalyst that converts carbon dioxide into ethanol with high selectivity. The study, titled \"Atomic-scale Cu–Zn synergy directs asymmetric C–C coupling for ethanol-selective CO2 electroreduction,\" was published in Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}