Revolutionary Carbon Conversion Tool: From Formula to Climate Solution.
Scientists at Cornell University have repurposed the 120-year-old Cottrell equation to understand the reactions carbon dioxide undergoes when subjected to electrochemistry, with the goal of converting the gas into useful products like ethylene, ethane, or ethanol, effectively transforming an environmental issue into a renewable resource. The equation enables a researcher to identify and control experimental parameters to take carbon dioxide and convert it into useful carbon products. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation, a Cornell Energy Systems Institute-Corning Graduate Fellowship, and the Cornell Engineering Learning Initiative.