With sources of fossil fuels constantly depleting and transportation of the actual gas becoming complicated (yeah, the irony), it seems like gasoline rising. Of course you can imagine any person's reaction to rising gas prices. If you answered a storm of furious curse words, then yes you are most likely correct! But what if you could make your own gasoline? Researchers at the University of Illinois have taken the first step towards this process as written in this article: http://www.chemistrytimes.com/research/Process_holds_promise_for_production_of_synthetic_gasoline.asp.
By using a process composed of two catalysts, these researchers were able to convert carbon dioxide into carbon dioxide, the starting substance of gasoline and other fuels. These catalysts are easily made using carbon-based nanofiber materials. A member of this Illinois research group said how most scientists use one catalyst, but he used two catalysts for this process: both an ionic liquid and silver. The problem with this was that silver was too expensive (clearly because gasoline already costs too much). To supplant the silver, this scientists tells of how his research group used carbon based materials doped with nitrogen atoms. So I guess nitrogen atoms are the steroids of elements? Now these scientists look to make more efficient catalysts using atomically-thin nanosheets.
So try and build off of the progress made by this group of researchers? If you make your own gasoline, you could help save your parents a lot of money and cursing. Make even more and maybe you can rival the gasoline industry in the Middle East!
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