A team of researchers at George Washington University report success in creating carbon fibers (also known as graphite) from atmospheric carbon dioxide, using a solar array as a heat and electricity source. Carbon is seen today as being both a curse (as a greenhouse gas), and a critical material for use in high tech products (e.g. carbon nanotubes, graphene).
An article from the MIT Technology Review explains the process:
The process requires molten lithium carbonate, with another compound, lithium oxide, dissolved in it. The lithium oxide combines with carbon dioxide in the air, forming more lithium carbonate. When voltage is applied across two electrodes immersed in the molten carbonate, the resulting reaction produces oxygen, carbon—which deposits on one of the electrodes—and lithium oxide, which can be used to capture more carbon dioxide and start the process again.
Head researcher Stuart Licht, a chemistry professor at GWU sees the potential for this process to be used as a means of reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere while at the same time being a source of a raw material that could one day be used to replace steel, aluminum and concrete due to superior strength, lightness and conductivity.
Having a clean energy source is essential if one of the goals is to reduce atmospheric carbon. This could be another future application for LENR if it comes online commercially.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Clean Process Demonstrated Creating Carbon Fibers from Atmosphere
A team of researchers at George Washington University report success in creating carbon fibers (also known as graphite) from atmospheric carbon dioxide, using a solar array as a heat and electricity source. Carbon is seen today as being both a curse (as a greenhouse gas), and a critical material for use in high tech products (e.g. carbon nanotubes, graphene).
An article from the MIT Technology Review explains the process:
Head researcher Stuart Licht, a chemistry professor at GWU sees the potential for this process to be used as a means of reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere while at the same time being a source of a raw material that could one day be used to replace steel, aluminum and concrete due to superior strength, lightness and conductivity.
Having a clean energy source is essential if one of the goals is to reduce atmospheric carbon. This could be another future application for LENR if it comes online commercially.
http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/climate/co2-turned-carbon-nanofibres-0432423/