"Carbon Dioxide Transformed into Solid Nanofibers: A Green Alchemical Breakthrough"
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University have developed a tandem electrocatalytic-thermocatalytic process to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable carbon nanofibers, while producing hydrogen gas as a byproduct. The carbon nanofibers could be used to strengthen building materials and lock away carbon for decades, potentially offsetting or achieving negative carbon emissions. The process operates at relatively low temperatures and ambient pressure, making it more practical for large-scale CO2 mitigation. The strategy involves using two different types of catalysts to break the reaction into stages, and the resulting carbon nanofibers can be easily recycled. If driven by renewable energy, this process could lead to truly carbon-negative results, offering new opportunities for CO2 mitigation.