HEFEI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have developed catalysts capable of efficiently converting carbon dioxide into methanoic acid, a liquid fuel.

Converting carbon dioxide into other chemicals via electroreduction has the potential to producing useful chemicals while cutting the greenhouse gas emission, but existing strategies are often inefficient and require more energy than they save.

According to a paper published in Nature, Sun Yongfu and colleagues at the University of Science and Technology of China have created two catalytic layers four atoms thick: one of pure cobalt and another of cobalt and cobalt oxide (Co3O4).

Though cobalt is catalytically inactive for carbon dioxide, its catalytic activity can be improved with the correct arrangements of atoms and the presence of oxide, Sun told Xinhua.

The study will help understanding of carbon dioxide conversion mechanisms and the pursuit of efficient, stable catalysts, Sun said.