ASIA (Enmaeya News) – November 14, 2025

Scientists in South Korea have created a new catalyst that can turn carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas, into carbon monoxide (CO), which can be used to make clean fuels.

The team, led by Dr. Kee Young Koo at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), designed a catalyst made of copper, magnesium, and iron. Unlike older catalysts that need very high temperatures, this new one works at just 400 °C, making it faster, cheaper, and more stable.

The process, called the reverse water-gas shift reaction, mixes CO2 with hydrogen to produce CO and water. The CO can then be turned into synthetic fuels like e-fuels and methanol. The new catalyst is much more efficient than traditional copper or expensive platinum catalysts, producing more CO faster and without creating unwanted byproducts.

This breakthrough could make it easier and cheaper to produce sustainable fuels while reducing carbon emissions.