Article content

An Ontario researcher said he has discovered a new, inexpensive way to convert carbon dioxide into a liquid fuel using sunlight in a process that mimics photosynthesis.

Yimin Wu, an engineering professor at the University of Waterloo, said the applications of his discovery are near limitless since the process can be used by anyone or industry that produces carbon dioxide.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Carbon dioxide converted to methanol using 'artificial leaf' process: Study Back to video

He has dubbed the process an “artificial leaf.”

“I tried to find a new way to mimic photosynthesis in nature, where leaves convert carbon dioxide and water with sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen,” Wu said in an interview.

Rather than making glucose, Wu tweaked the reaction to produce methanol, which can be used in variety of ways, including as fuel for vehicles.

“The motivation is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas, and hopefully reduce global warming and to provide sustainable energy,” he said.