Solar Hydrocarbons: Single-Step, Atmospheric-Pressure Synthesis of C-2-C-4 Alkanes and Alkenes from CO2

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) spinel has been found to produce C-2-C-4 hydrocarbons in a single-step, ambient-pressure, photocatalytic hydrogenation of CO2 with a rate of 1.1 mmol g(-1) h(-1), selectivity of 29.8 % and conversion yield of 12.9 %. On stream the CoFe2O4 reconstructs to a CoFe-CoFe2O4 alloy-spinel nanocomposite which facilitates the light-assisted transformation of CO2 to CO and hydrogenation of the CO to C-2-C-4 hydrocarbons. Promising results obtained from a laboratory demonstrator bode well for the development of a solar hydrocarbon pilot refinery.