21-05-2025
India, Taiwan team up on solar tech to turn carbon emissions into green energy
In a promising development in the fight against climate change, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai, has created a photocatalytic system that uses sunlight to convert harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable renewable fuels. The research, done in collaboration with National Taiwan University, is published in the respected journal Nano Energy and marks a significant step forward in green Indrajit Shown and his team, along with Dr Li-Chyong Chen's group, engineered a novel material called ZnS/ZnInS (ZIS) heterostructure material uses solar energy to efficiently transform CO into hydrocarbons, specifically acetaldehyde -- a useful chemical for producing sustainable fuels.
HITS Professor in collaboration
200x EFFICIENCY BOOST IN CO2 CONVERSION
The researchers developed this ZnS/ZIS composite through a simple one-pot hydrothermal method, introducing a new mechanism called the strain-induced direct major development has boosted the efficiency of CO2 conversion by 200 times compared to older ZnS-based systems.'Our work aims to go beyond scientific curiosity,' said Professor Shown. 'It focuses on practical solutions to reduce CO2, a major greenhouse gas, and turn it into something valuable. This research highlights the strength of international teamwork between HITS and National Taiwan University in addressing global environmental challenges.'advertisementOne of the key achievements is that the system uses visible light to produce acetaldehyde selectively, a critical feature for developing green fuel testing using isotope-labeled CO2 confirmed that the hydrocarbons generated come directly from CO2, ruling out innovation supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action, Industry Innovation, and Responsible team now plans to further develop this technology for real-world applications, potentially transforming how we tackle carbon emissions and energy Watch
