Two professors from the College of Engineering at Al-Qadisiyah University have contributed to a revolutionary innovation that converts carbon dioxide into clean fuel using sunlight.

Prof. Dr. Ali Abdul Hussein Jaza’a, Dean of the College of Engineering, and Lec. Dr. Mustafa Jawad Na’ma have contributed to the development of a new engineering material capable of converting carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary cause of global warming, into two valuable fuels: carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4), using only light and water energy!  In a remarkable international scientific achievement,

A joint research team comprising researchers from Iraq, the UAE, and India utilized photocatalysis technology, similar to photosynthesis in plants. The innovation involved combining two materials: titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as a photocatalyst and vanadium carbide (V₂C) from the MXene family, a material known for its high conductivity and light absorption. The resulting V₂C/TiO₂ composite demonstrated unprecedented efficiency.  In trials, the improved compound achieved record production rates.

This innovation is a promising step in combating climate change by converting a harmful gas into clean, sustainable, and storable energy sources. It also opens up opportunities for developing local technologies that serve Iraq’s green economy by utilizing carbon emissions.