Laser carved copper catalysts unveil secrets of turning CO2 into fuels

Selectivity maps help identify optimal conditions to produce chemicals of choice 

Copper catalysts are treasured by electrochemists because they can transform carbon dioxide into fuels and feedstock chemicals. However, this process is typically not selective. Now, using laser carved copper microprobes and computational modelling, researchers have created detailed selectivity maps that predict the best reaction conditions to obtain value-added fuels and chemicals.