Enhancement of gamma-ray radiolysis of carbon dioxide with the assistance of solid materials

Abstract

This work is devoted to enhance gamma-ray radiolysis of CO2 with the assistance of coexisting metal materials. It is found that lower energy electrons which are generated through interactions of γ-photons with the coexisting metal materials and ejected to CO2 gas actually enhance decomposition of CO2 to produce CO. The increment of CO production agrees well with the increment of the deposited energy in CO2, given by the lower energy electrons emitted from the materials, which is calculated by a numerical simulations code MCNP. It is also suggested that the volumetric decomposition of CO2 dominates the decomposition at the material’s surface.