A research effort to flip carbon dioxide from a climate change problem to a solution has been launched at The University of Queensland.
Dubbed GETCO2, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide is focussing on turning CO2 into products such as fuels and chemicals.
GETCO2 is a $45 million, 7-year collaboration involving 7 Australian universities, industry and government being led by Professor Xiwang Zhang in UQ's School of Chemical Engineering.
"With electrochemical conversion, CO2 is transformed from being the biggest problem of our time to a valuable resource," Professor Zhang said.
"We've assembled world-leading experts with strong connections to industry along with talented early career researchers.
"The ground-breaking science being done at GETCO2 will point to a smart and clean path to net zero emissions by 2050 with Australia leading the way."
Already a project at UQ has built a device that generates electricity by absorbing CO2.
Professor Zhang and Dr Zhuyuan Wang are finalists for the 2024 Eureka Prize for Innovative Research in Sustainability for their work on a small, proof-of-concept nanogenerator that is carbon negative because it consumes greenhouse gas.
"Imagine in the future a device like this powering a mobile phone or a laptop computer using CO2 from the atmosphere," Professor Zhang said.
"On a larger scale, this technology could integrate with an industrial CO2 capture process to make electricity.
"It is very exciting, and we will keep developing this technology and many others at GETCO2."
GETCO2's legacy will be advanced technologies and people with the skills and expertise to tackle the complex challenges of the future.
The Centre based in UQ's Andrew N. Liveris Building was officially launched on 30 July 2024 by Assistant Minister for Education Senator Anthony Chisholm.
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