Oxidised metals also appear to be able to take on an active role as catalysts for CO₂ conversion, contrary to what scientists had previously thought, Utrecht researchers report in Nature Communications.

The efficient conversion of CO₂ into fuel has been a challenge for a long time. Usually, you use metallic catalysts, such as nickel, palladium or platinum, but in recent years it has become clear that not only metallic cobalt (Co) is a good candidate for this, but also its oxidised form (CoO). Iris ten Have, Bert Weckhuysen and colleagues now show how the reaction mechanism works and that CoO performs even better than Co.