Researchers have developed a system that converts carbon dioxide directly from industrial exhaust gases into a chemical used to produce fuels and other products, removing the need for costly carbon dioxide purification. Adelaide University dean of chemical engineering, Professor Yan Jiao, said the approach could make carbon utilisation more practical for industry. Using a simulated industrial flue gas containing 15 per cent carbon dioxide and 8 per cent oxygen, the system achieved almost 100 per cent conversion selectivity to carbon monoxide. “We found that controlling hydrogen-bond interactions is the key to suppressing unwanted reactions and enabling highly selective carbon dioxide conversion,” said Voiry. “This opens a new direction for carbon utilisation technologies and could help accelerate the transition towards sustainable fuel and chemical production powered by renewable energy.”