Na ⁺ -gated water-conducting nanochannels for boosting CO ₂ conversion to liquid fuels

TLDR

Water formation limits the yield of many gas‑phase industrial reactions, making water‑selective membranes desirable. The authors fabricated continuous defect‑free NaA zeolite membranes that sieve water while blocking gases such as H₂, CO, and CO₂. Using these membranes in CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol markedly increased CO₂ conversion and methanol yield. Li et al., Science, this issue p.

Abstract

Water-selective zeolite membranes The yield of many gas-phase industrial reactions is limited by the formation of water as a by-product. Li et al. harnessed the water-sieving properties of NaA zeolite crystals by forming them into continuous defect-free membranes within tube reactors (see the Perspective by Carreon). These membranes can let water pass but reject gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). When these membranes were used in CO 2 hydrogenation to form methanol with water as a by-product, substantial increases were observed in both the CO 2 conversion and methanol yield. Science , this issue p. 667 ; see also p. 624