Xueli Zheng and Bo Zhang

A new catalyst created by U of T Engineering researchers brings them one step closer to artificial photosynthesis — a system that, just like plants, would use renewable energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into stored chemical energy. By both capturing carbon emissions and storing energy from solar or wind power, the invention provides a one-two punch in the fight against climate change.“Carbon capture and renewable energy are two promising technologies, but there are problems,” says Phil De Luna (MSE PhD Candidate). …De Luna and his co-lead authors Xueli Zheng and Bo Zhang aim to address both challenges at once, and… are designing an artificial system that mimics how plants and other photosynthetic organisms use sunlight to convert CO2 and water into molecules that humans can later use for fuel.