A new liquid metal electrolysis method can convert CO2 gas into coal-like solid flakes at room temperature. The carbon dioxide is dissolved and placed in a beaker filled with an electrolyte liquid and liquid metal. Charged with electrical current, it slowly converts into solid flakes of a coal-like substance.
Until now, extremely high temperatures were necessary to convert carbon dioxide into a solid substance. This made it very inefficient to use commercially. According to the research team from the RMIT University in Melbourne, the new method is relatively inexpensive, and can be done at room temperature with commonplace lab equipment.