A novel photo-electrochemical approach for the chemical recycling of carbon dioxide to fuels

In this work we present the opportunity to recycle CO2 back to liquid fuels, by using a novel Photo ElectroChemical (PEC) approach integrated with the utilization of nanosized materials as (photo)electro-catalysts. Even if the perspective is still a long-term objective, some good advances in this direction already exist. An example is the particular PEC reactor that we have developed for H2 production by water photoelectrolysis but that can ideally be adapted for gas phase reduction of CO2 to fuels. The photo-reactor, working like a reverse fuel cell, was realized in a highly compact configuration in order to minimize light scattering phenomena and increase the photoefficiency of the process. Results, obtained separately from experiments with the photoanode (H2 production by solar light) and the electro cathode (C02 reduction by current application), are very promising for a future application in the chemical recycling of CO2, as a complementary technology to carbon sequestration and storage.