西湖大学孙立成&曾安平院士团队将CO₂高效转化为PDO，BDO

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a breakthrough in converting CO2 into high-value C3-C4 diols through a synergistic electrochemical and AI-assisted biosynthesis system, highlighting its significance for green chemistry and carbon neutrality [2][3][4]. Group 1: Research Breakthroughs - A novel carbon-negative emission system has been developed, integrating electrochemical and biocatalytic processes to efficiently convert CO2 into 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) and 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) [4][15]. - The electrochemical module utilizes a CuZn alloy catalyst, achieving an ethanol production rate of 1200 μmol h⁻¹ cm⁻² at an amperometric current density of -1100 mA cm⁻², with a Faradaic efficiency of 35% [6][15]. - The biocatalytic module employs engineered DERA enzymes to extend C–C bonds, significantly enhancing the synthesis efficiency of 1,3-PDO to a record yield of 1.8 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ [10][15]. Group 2: Technological Innovations - A biomimetic J-T membrane has been developed to address ethanol permeation issues, achieving less than 1% ethanol crossover while maintaining high OH⁻ conductivity [7][15]. - AI-assisted enzyme engineering has led to a 2.5-fold increase in catalytic efficiency for the DERA enzyme, facilitating faster synthesis of target diols [10][15]. - Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that mutations introduced new hydrogen bonding networks, enhancing substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency [11][15]. Group 3: Performance Metrics - The integrated system achieved a production rate of 1.8 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ for 1,3-PDO and 1.0 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ for 1,3-BDO, with a carbon atom utilization rate of approximately 80% [15]. - All carbon atoms in the products were confirmed to originate from CO2, showcasing the system's efficiency compared to existing electro-biological hybrid systems, which typically yield less than 0.05 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ [15][18]. - The research demonstrates significant advancements in catalyst design, membrane separation, and enzyme engineering, emphasizing the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in green synthesis [16].