Chinese Scientists Create Petrol Building Blocks from CO2, Water, and Sunlight

Artificial Photosynthesis Breakthrough

A team of Chinese researchers has unveiled a solar-powered process that converts carbon dioxide and water into the basic chemical components of petrol, drawing direct inspiration from how plants photosynthesise. The work, published in Nature Communications, was carried out by scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

How It Works

The method centres on a specially engineered silver-modified tungsten trioxide material that acts as a "charge reservoir." Taking its cue from plastoquinone, the molecule in plants that temporarily stores electrons during natural photosynthesis, the material undergoes reversible chemical transitions when exposed to light, storing and releasing electrical energy to drive chemical reactions.

When paired with cobalt phthalocyanine as a catalyst, the system achieved a carbon monoxide production rate roughly one hundred times higher than conventional methods. Carbon monoxide serves as a key intermediate that can be further processed into liquid hydrocarbons, the building blocks of petrol and other fuels.

Why It Matters

The development targets industries where electrification remains impractical. Aviation and maritime shipping depend heavily on liquid fuels due to energy density requirements for long-distance travel, and finding sustainable alternatives for these sectors is one of the biggest challenges in the global energy transition.

China is already investing heavily in sustainable fuel pathways. The National Energy Administration announced in late 2025 that provinces should utilise renewable energy to develop industrial bases for sustainable aviation fuel during the next five-year plan. This photosynthesis-inspired approach could complement those efforts by converting atmospheric CO2 directly into usable fuel components.

Building on Previous Success

The breakthrough follows China's successful demonstration of artificial photosynthesis aboard its Tiangong space station, where the Shenzhou-19 crew produced oxygen and rocket fuel components from CO2 and water in the world's first in-orbit demonstration of the technology. That system operated at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure, dramatically reducing energy demands compared to conventional methods like electrolysis.

The researchers emphasised that their charge reservoir strategy provides a universal approach to solar fuel production, potentially opening the door to scalable, sustainable fuel generation using nothing more than sunlight, water, and atmospheric carbon dioxide.