SK Innovation Successfully Converts Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Monoxide

Enhancing the Level of Independently Developed 'Iwonja Catalyst Technology'

SK Innovation has succeeded in converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using electrochemical catalytic reactions.

SK Innovation's Environmental Science and Technology Institute announced on the 3rd that it has succeeded in producing about 1kg of carbon monoxide per day by utilizing the 'diatomic catalyst technology' that selectively converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide. This research was recently published in the chemical engineering journal, Chemical Engineering Journal.

Researchers at SK Innovation Environmental Science and Technology Institute in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon are demonstrating carbon monoxide conversion using 'dual-atom catalyst technology.' (Photo by SK Innovation)

The domestic electrochemical system specialist company Techwin participated in this research, and the large-scale production of carbon monoxide using diatomic catalysts is evaluated as the first implementation by SK Innovation's Environmental Science and Technology Institute. The diatomic catalyst technology was developed by the research team at SK Innovation's Environmental Science and Technology Institute and was published last year in the environmental journal Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

Unlike conventional catalysts composed of hundreds of atoms clustered together, single-atom catalysts, made by isolating atoms one by one, are regarded as a technology that further enhances activity. Furthermore, it was confirmed that making the catalyst in a diatomic form improves catalytic performance even more.

The research team manufactured catalysts in which nickel and iron exist in a diatomic form to enhance catalytic performance and applied them to an electrolyzer with multiple stacked electrode cells. Through electrochemical catalytic reactions in the electrolyzer, carbon dioxide was converted into carbon monoxide.

The Environmental Science and Technology Institute expects this research to have a 'two birds with one stone' effect by reducing carbon dioxide, a major factor accelerating the climate crisis, while securing carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is used in the production of chemical products such as acetic acid and plastics, and recently has been attracting attention as a raw material for producing alternative fuels such as methanol and synthetic crude oil.

Lee Seong-jun, head of SK Innovation's Environmental Science and Technology Institute, said, "Carbon reduction and overcoming the climate crisis are top priorities that we all must solve," adding, "The catalytic technology capabilities accumulated through energy and chemical research and development (R&D) have been utilized in the development of carbon reduction technologies. We will further strengthen our core R&D capabilities to contribute to carbon reduction."

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