PolyU-developed electroreduction system turns carbon dioxide into plastic ingredients

Prof. Daniel LAU, Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI), Management Committee Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Director of the University Research Facility in Materials Characterization and Device Fabrication (UMF), Head of the Department of Applied Physics (AP) and Chair Professor of Nanomaterials and his research team, developed a durable, highly selective and energy-efficient carbon dioxide (CO₂) electroreduction system that can convert CO₂ into ethylene for industrial purposes. Ethylene is a primary ingredient in plastics and chemical fibres. This research was recently published in Nature Energy and won a Gold Medal at the 48^th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in Switzerland.

Conventional ethylene production generates significant carbon emissions. The research team adopted the method of electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction to convert carbon dioxide into ethylene using green electricity, providing a more environmentally friendly alternative and stable ethylene production.

The team is working to promote this emerging technology to bring it closer to mass production, closing the carbon loop and ultimately achieving carbon neutrality. This innovative PolyU project was conducted in collaboration with the University of Oxford, the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre of Taiwan and Jiangsu University.

Further reading: https://polyu.hk/guFqw

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