CO₂ to Fuels | Carbon Conversion

The breakthrough

"A base-metal catalyst performing reverse water-gas shift at low temperature, with selectivity that rivals noble-metal systems."

Published in Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Cubic molybdenum carbide, independently validated for low-temperature rWGS activity and near-complete CO selectivity. No precious metals. No proprietary claims without peer review.

What was proven

The paper established that cubic molybdenum carbide is active for rWGS at temperatures below the conventional threshold, and it suppresses the competing methanation pathway that limits most non-noble catalysts.

Low-temperature activity. Active for rWGS at temperatures where conventional catalysts are inactive or require precious metals.

Near-complete CO selectivity. CO₂ converts to CO rather than methane. Methane formation stays below 2% across operating conditions, a result that rivals noble-metal systems.

Base-metal economics. Molybdenum carbide replaces iridium, platinum, and rhodium, enabling industrial scale without precious-metal cost.

Reverse water-gas shift reaction

CO₂ + H₂ → CO + H₂O

CO selectivity

>99%

Methane formation suppressed below 2% across operating conditions

Temperature regime

Low-T

Active below conventional thresholds for base-metal rWGS catalysts

Catalytically Active Phase

Mo₂C

Cubic molybdenum carbide. No iridium, platinum, or rhodium required

Output

Syngas

CO + H₂, ready for Fischer-Tropsch or methanol synthesis after pressurization

Commercial readiness

From published
science to
deployable catalyst.

The Science publication establishes independent validation. What it doesn't tell you is what we've done since.

From active phase to deployable catalyst.

The Science paper proved the chemistry. NanosTech made it deployable. The published active phase is a powder, validated in the lab but not loadable into a reactor. The Olympia™ family re-engineers that same molybdenum carbide into supported, pelletized catalysts ready for commercial reactor units.

The economics work at scale.

Replacing iridium or platinum with molybdenum carbide changes the cost structure of carbon conversion at the material level. Noble metals make rWGS pilots viable; they make industrial deployment impractical. Base-metal formulations do not have that ceiling.

High-purity syngas, ready for downstream processing.

Near-zero methane formation means the syngas output from Olympia™ needs no cleanup before downstream use. The catalyst handles selectivity so the downstream process does not have to. What remains is standard compression to Fischer-Tropsch operating pressure.

The fuels pathway

Captured CO₂ becomes
a feedstock, not a liability.

Syngas produced by the Olympia™ catalyst feeds four distinct downstream markets. CO₂ that would otherwise be a disposal cost becomes the input for low-carbon fuels, base chemicals, and carbon materials, closing the carbon loop where it matters most.

Input

Captured CO₂

Industrial point source, DAC, or post-combustion capture

Olympia™ Catalyst

rWGS Reaction

CO₂ + H₂ → CO + H₂O
>99% CO selectivity

Output

Syngas (CO + H₂)

High-purity CO + H₂. Greater than 99% CO selectivity.

Aviation

eSAF

Electro-sustainable aviation fuel. 100% synthetic, drop-in compatible with existing jet engines and infrastructure.

Transport

Power-to-Liquids

Synthetic diesel, gasoline, and marine fuels from renewable hydrogen and captured CO₂.

Chemicals

Methanol & Base Chemicals

Syngas feeds methanol synthesis and the broader C1 chemistry platform: fuels, solvents, and feedstocks.

Materials

Carbon Materials

CO as a precursor for graphite and graphene production, yielding high-value materials for batteries and composites.

Get in touch

If you're evaluating a
CO₂-to-fuels pathway,
we'd like to understand
your process.

Whether you're scoping a Power-to-Liquids pilot, designing a carbon utilization strategy, or looking for a commercially ready rWGS catalyst for an existing process, we're ready to talk specifics.

Contact NanosTech Based in Calgary. Working globally.