Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a novel photocatalytic technology capable of converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into methanol fuel using direct sunlight, opening up a promising pathway for clean energy generation and carbon utilisation.

The innovation has been led by Professor Mahuya De from the Department of Chemical Engineering, along with research scholar Nayan Moni Baishya, and has been published in the Journal of Materials Science. The technology addresses two critical global challenges simultaneously—rising energy demand and increasing carbon emissions—by transforming CO₂, a major greenhouse gas, into a valuable clean fuel.

Unlike conventional photocatalysts that rely on expensive or complex materials, the IIT Guwahati team has developed the system using low-cost and easily available components. The catalyst combines graphitic carbon nitride with few-layer graphene, enabling efficient photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ under natural sunlight without the need for external energy inputs.

The researchers believe the technology holds strong potential for deployment in high-emission industrial sectors such as thermal power plants, cement manufacturing units, steel plants and petrochemical refineries, where captured CO₂ could be converted into methanol for reuse as fuel or feedstock.

However, the innovation is currently at the laboratory stage. Further research and development will be required to scale up the process and design a durable, industrial-grade photocatalytic system suitable for real-world applications.