A catalyst is a substance that facilitates a chemical reaction, without undertaking permanent changes itself (i.e. it is not consumed by the reaction). An example of this are the enzymes found in saliva, which are catalyst in the digestive process.

I am trying to find a catalyst to convert carbon dioxide into methanol. Carbon dioxide output by burning fossil fuels causes major environmental problems such as global warming, and is also depleting our global fossil fuel store. Turning carbon dioxide - essentially a waste gas - into methanol would be very useful, since not only can it act as a fuel, but it has many other chemical applications (e.g. as a solvent or as starting material to synthesise small molecules).

If my catalytic system is successful, it could be used on power stations. By capturing the waste carbon dioxide on site and turning it into methanol, the gas would no longer be polluting the atmosphere. Furthermore an alternative fuel would be created. This would help reduce global warming and provide an additional source of fuel.

Other researchers in the group are working on upgrading methanol into even better fuels. By combining my work with theirs, we could make fuels that are a direct replacement for petrol, from waste. This would allow us to continue to use the same engines without modification.

Consulting literature on the subject to see what catalysts carry out similar processes, I found a catalyst that works for my reaction. However, as it was not designed for this process, it has a low output of methanol. I have been working on this for a year and have now started to successfully optimise it. As a result, I have improved its efficiency and reduced its degradation.