UNIST Creates Room-Temperature Method to Break Down Greenhouse Gas
- Yul So
- Nov 19
- 1 min read
Yul So
Nov 19, 2025
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) announced on the 21st that Professor Baek Jong-beom’s team has developed a method to decompose nitrous oxide (N₂O), a greenhouse gas 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide, almost completely at room temperature.
Using a mechanical-chemical process, the researchers broke down N₂O through the impact and friction of small beads inside a ball mill by containing nickel oxide catalysts. This reaction created highly active sites on the catalyst surface, which allows fast and efficient decomposition without the need for high heat.
The process achieved a 99.98% conversion rate at 42°C, more than six times higher in energy efficiency than conventional thermal methods that require over 445°C. The team also verified that the method works under real-world conditions. In a system simulating a diesel engine, the removal rate reached 95 to 100 %, while a continuous flow system for large-scale gas treatment achieved about 97.6 % conversion. The process maintained stable performance even when oxygen and water vapor were present, as in actual exhaust gases.
Professor Baek said the technology could be applied to diesel engines and chemical plants to reduce greenhouse gases and support carbon neutrality. The study was published online in Advanced Materials on September 26.
The research was published online on September 26 in Advanced Materials, one of the world’s leading journals in materials and energy science, and will soon appear in print.
