TU Berlin is conducting research on direct CO2 conversion

October 19, 2026

Source: E & M powernews

The goal is to convert CO2 directly into raw materials for synthetic fuels using electricity. To this end, TU Berlin is further developing the technology in two research projects.

How can carbon dioxide be used as a raw material without first having to produce hydrogen? Two research projects at the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) are addressing this question. The Department of Technical Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis is receiving a total of approximately 2.6 million euros for this work. TU Berlin announced this on October 15.

In conventional methods for producing synthetic fuels, hydrogen is first generated: electricity from renewable energy sources splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is then processed together with CO2 into feedstocks for fuel production. The Berlin researchers aim to bypass this intermediate step. They directly convert CO2 and water in an electrochemical cell. Using electricity, they produce substances that can then be further processed chemically.

The key reactions are already working in the lab. “The challenge now is to make the electrolysers more efficient, more durable, and larger,” says Peter Strasser, head of the participating department. The two projects are tackling this challenge from different angles.

Ethylene as a Building Block for Aviation Fuel

The “JEThylen” project focuses on ethylene. This basic chemical can be extracted from CO₂ and then combined into longer hydrocarbons, from which synthetic jet fuel can be produced. According to TU Berlin, this direct conversion could shorten the process chain and reduce energy consumption because several steps take place at relatively low temperatures.

The project partners aim to reduce the voltage in the electrolysis cells from the current level of around 4.5 volts to 2.5 volts. Combined with other improvements, this is expected to increase energy efficiency from about 27 percent to 50 percent. The university cites stable operation for at least 1,000 hours as another goal. The size of the cells is also set to increase: While comparable laboratory systems typically use electrode areas of about ten square centimeters, the initial plan calls for several hundred square centimeters. For future industrial applications, designs covering up to 0.5 square meters are to be developed.

“JEThylen” is coordinated by Siemens Energy (Munich). Other participants include the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB (Stuttgart), the aviation think tank Bauhaus Luftfahrt (Taufkirchen), and the Technical University of Berlin. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) is funding the project as part of the “Disruptive Approaches to the Industrial Use of CO2 (DISCO2)” funding initiative. It will run from March 2026 to February 2029. TU Berlin will receive approximately one million euros.

New Cells Are Expected to Operate More Stably

The second research project is known as “INNOCELL.” In this project, researchers are investigating how the conversion process can be reliably carried out in larger cells. The project is based on a design developed and patented by TU Berlin. It directs gaseous CO2 via so-called gas diffusion electrodes directly to the catalyst, where the reaction takes place.

One problem is that liquid can penetrate the fine pores of the electrodes and obstruct the flow of CO2. To counter this so-called “flooding,” the researchers are using water-repellent plastic materials. They are using a specially developed current collector for electrical contact.

The cells are being tested at temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Celsius and pressures of up to 30 bar. The goal is to achieve an energy efficiency of at least 45 percent and an operating life of at least 1,000 hours. In addition to ethylene, the researchers are also investigating the production of carbon monoxide. Among other things, it is needed for synthesis gas, from which methanol and synthetic fuels can be produced. According to Strasser, the test results will determine which application is suitable for larger plants.

“INNOCELL” will run from 2026 to 2029. The TU Berlin will receive 1.6 million euros for this project from the “VIP+” funding program (Validationof the Technological and SocietalInnovation Potentialof Scientific Research). In this way, the federal government is supporting efforts to determine whether scientific findings can be put to practical use.

Author: Davina Spohn