Solar Hydrocarbons: Single‐Step, Atmospheric‐Pressure Synthesis of C2−C4 Alkanes and Alkenes from CO2.

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) spinel has been found to produce C2−C4 hydrocarbons in a single‐step, ambient‐pressure, photocatalytic hydrogenation of CO2 with a rate of 1.1 mmol g−1 h−1, selectivity of 29.8 % and conversion yield of 12.9 %. On stream the CoFe2O4 reconstructs to a CoFe−CoFe2O4 alloy‐spinel nanocomposite which facilitates the light‐assisted transformation of CO2 to CO and hydrogenation of the CO to C2−C4 hydrocarbons. Promising results obtained from a laboratory demonstrator bode well for the development of a solar hydrocarbon pilot refinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]