A research team has developed a highly efficient catalyst that directly converts carbon dioxide—a major contributor to global warming—into high-value industrial 2-propanol. The research was published online in Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy.
Technology that uses electrical energy to convert carbon dioxide into useful chemical substances is a key environmentally friendly method for reducing greenhouse gases and recycling them as resources. However, previous techniques were largely limited to producing simple structures like carbon monoxide or methane. Directly synthesizing 2-propanol—a complex alcohol widely used as a semiconductor cleaning agent and disinfectant—remained a formidable technical challenge.
Two pathways, one target
To overcome this hurdle, the research team, led by Professor Jung Kyu Kim from the School of Chemical Engineering, precisely regulated electron flow on the catalyst surface, establishing a novel mechanism featuring bifurcated reaction pathways. As these two pathways operate simultaneously, they guide carbon atoms within carbon dioxide to bond with high precision, successfully producing 2-propanol with exceptionally high selectivity and yield.
Strong results under mild conditions
Notably, the newly developed catalyst synthesized 2-propanol with world-record efficiency at room temperature and ambient pressure (ambient conditions), eliminating the need for specialized high-pressure equipment. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated superior durability, maintaining stable performance for 48 hours of continuous operation without degradation.
Professor Kim stated, "This represents a novel design strategy in which the catalyst is engineered so that two distinct chemical reaction pathways work cooperatively. We expect this breakthrough to significantly accelerate the commercialization of green technologies that transform waste carbon dioxide into valuable industrial raw materials."
More information
Won Tae Hong et al, Interfacial electronic polarization–induced bifurcated CO2 electroreduction pathways to 2-propanol on Ce(OH)x/Ni2P, Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy (2027). DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2026.127256
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Citation: Catalyst converts CO₂ into high-value industrial chemical at room temperature with record efficiency (2026, August 5) retrieved 6 August 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-08-catalyst-high-industrial-chemical-room.html
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