Sunlight to methanol fuel: IIT Guwahati researchers turn CO₂ into green energy

Guwahati: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed a new photocatalytic material capable of converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into methanol fuel under direct sunlight that can be used for power generation in industries.

The innovation aims to transform CO₂ — long cast as a chief agent of global warming and environmental strain — into a valuable resource. Within this sunlit chemistry lies a meaningful stride towards cleaner energy and stronger environmental protection, addressing the pressing need to meet rising energy demands without harming the planet.


The team, led by professor Mahuya De of the department of chemical engineering at IIT Guwahati, and her research scholar, Nayan Moni Baishya, published their study in the Journal of Materials Science, highlighting this one-of-its-kind innovation.

“Our innovation is a milestone because it addresses twin challenges — to meet energy requirements and mitigate carbon emissions — without imposing environmental harm. So far, huge dependence on petroleum-based fuels led to the emission of carbon dioxide, causing environmental stress and global warming,” Baishya said.

He said researchers worldwide are working to develop photocatalytic methods to convert carbon dioxide into clean fuels. However, IIT-G team’s work is different because they used a novel catalyst combining easily available and low-cost graphitic carbon nitride and few-layer graphene, Baishya added.

Prof. De said, “The present work is expected to contribute towards mitigating environmental problems, with a simultaneous contribution towards green energy. Converting carbon dioxide to greener fuel using solar energy is a promising technology in this direction.”

The IIT Guwahati team’s technology could potentially be used in thermal power plants, cement manufacturing units, steel production facilities, and petrochemical refineries, to convert high CO₂ emissions in these industries into methanol.

However, the researchers said since the innovation is still at the laboratory stage, the findings need further validation. The team plans to scale up the technology for practical use and develop a long-lasting photocatalytic system that can convert industrial CO₂ emissions into clean fuels.