CO2 to methanol conversion using hydride terminated porous silicon nanoparticles.

Porous silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) prepared via magnesiothermic reduction were used to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into methanol. The hydride surface of the silicon nanoparticles acted as a CO2 reducing reagent without any catalyst at temperatures above 100 °C. The Si nanoparticles were reused up to four times without significant loss in methanol yields. The reduction process was monitored using in situ FT-IR and the materials were characterized using SEM, TEM, NMR, XPS, and powder XRD techniques. The influence of reaction temperature, pressure, and Si-NP concentration on CO2 reduction were also investigated. Finally, Si particles produced directly from sand were used to convert CO2 to methanol.