Converting H2O and CO2 into chemical fuels by nickel via friction

In recent years, an increasing number of metals have been utilized in studies focused on converting H2O and CO2 into chemical fuels through friction, revealing some unexpected effects. In this research, we have fabricated nickel (Ni) magnetic rotary disks via which Ni was successfully stimulated through magnetic stirring to convert H2O and CO2 into chemical fuels. Within a 150 mL glass reactor enclosed with 30 mL H2O, 1 atm CO2, and a Ni magnetic rotary disk, notable amounts of 0.06 μmol of CO, 0.64 μmol of CH4, 0.14 μmol of C2H6, and 23.18 μmol of H2 were generated after 5 h of magnetic stirring. Moreover, substantial amounts of chemical fuels were also produced when the reactor bottom was coated with Al2O3, Ti, Ni, and Cu separately. The concentration of NaCl in H2O and the H2O : CO2 ratio were identified as influential factors in the production of chemical fuels. Given the chemical stability of Ni and the continuous generation of hydroxyl radicals during magnetic stirring, a tribo-catalytic mechanism is proposed for the Ni-mediated conversion of CO2 and H2O. In this mechanism, elastically deformed Ni in micro-holes compresses H2O, and subsequently, Ni catalyzes the conversion of H2O and CO2 under increased pressure. These findings unequivocally highlight the promising potential of metals to convert H2O and CO2 into chemical fuels through the application of mechanical energy.