Fuels from Sunlight, Water and
Carbon Dioxide?
hydrolic fracking
350
ls
leve
O
2
C
heric
(ppm
v)
vels
e
CO 2 l
400
300
Millions barrels per day
Atmo
sp
250
0
100
200
200
150 400
300
t
esen
re pr
efo
ars b
f ye
ds o
n
a
s
Thou
peak oil
Year
P)
(ky B
1 hr
=
1 yr energy
consumption
Storing Energy
gasoline
batteries
8 times the volume
16 times the weight
chemistry
heat
sun
Just a pinch of chemistry
H2O  H2 + ½O2
CO2  CO + ½O2
2H2O + CO2  CH4 + 2O2
The magic ingredient
cerium dioxide
hot
warm
CeO2
exhales oxygen
inhales oxygen
Hot
Warm
O2
H2O
O
Ce
exhalation
inhalation
releases fuel
H2
Solar energy is abundant
Chemical fuels store energy well
Solar heat uses all wavelengths of light
Designer materials use heat to make fuels
Image credits
gas prices: http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/oct/05/calif-gas-prices-shock-drivers/
peak oil: http://www.paulchefurka.ca/Population.html
CO2 levels: Indermühle A., T.F. Stocker, F. Joos, H. Fischer, H.J. Smith, M. Wahlen, B. Deck, D. Mastroianni, J.
Tschumi, T. Blunier, R. Meyer, B. Stauffer. 1999. Nature 398:121-126; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, 2001 (http://www.ipcc.ch); Dr. Pieter Tans, NOAA/ESRL (www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/)
and Dr. Ralph Keeling, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (scrippsco2.ucsd.edu/).
fukushima daiichi: http://journeys4good.com/on-location/fukushima-50-japans-volunteer-heroes-and-theinternational-volunteers-they-inspire/
coral reefs: http://fooyoh.com/menknowpause_lifestyle_living/5141673
oil spill: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/photogalleries/100608-gulf-oil-spill-environmentbirds-animals-pictures/
fracking: http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/06/nationals-fracking-response.html
solar energy map: http://www.alternative-energy-resources.net/solarenergydisadvantages.html
the sun: http://haysvillelibrary.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/the-song-of-the-sun/
magnifying lens: http://www.tutorvista.com/physics/magnifying-glass-lens
Canadian tar sands: National Geographic Magazine “Scraping Bottom” March 2009, photo Peter Essick
human respiration: http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookRESPSYS.html
solar collection field: http://kawngroup.com/solar-thermal-energy-systems/