Fuels and chemicals from carbon dioxide and solar energy
The production of synthetic fuels is a necessity for the transition to a fossil-free society. Fuels that are synthesised via electrolysis, such as hydrogen, are called e-fuels. When renewable electricity is used in the electrolysis, the result is a fossil-free fuel that is faster to produce than biofuels and does not compete with crops for arable land.
Solar fuels are synthetic fuels produced through the direct conversion of solar energy. ‘Direct conversion’ means that solar energy is converted into fuel in a photochemical process, without using electricity as an intermediate energy carrier. Another term for solar fuel is artificial photosynthesis. Solar fuel can be produced in a photoelectrochemical cell, but also by using photobiological microorganisms such as cyanobacteria.
Ongoing research aims at developing and improving the production of fuels and chemicals using carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
At Uppsala University, this research is done at the Consortium for Artificial Photosynthesis. Uppsala University is collaborating with Umeå University, Lund University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
Artificial Photosynthesis and Solar Fuel on the Department of Chemistry website
Biophysical and Bioinorganic Chemistry on the Department of Chemistry website
