Article

Researchers from Yale and the University of Missouri have developed manganese-based catalysts that effectively convert carbon dioxide into formate, a compound that may provide hydrogen for fuel cells. This approach addresses the challenge of producing hydrogen sustainably, replacing fossil fuel-derived feedstocks.

Current industrial formate production relies on fossil fuels, making it unsustainable long-term. The team's innovation lies in enhancing the catalytic lifetime of the manganese catalysts, surpassing the efficiency of precious metal catalysts.

This was achieved by stabilizing the catalysts through novel ligand design. The study suggests that this method could be adapted for other catalytic processes. The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.