{
  "abstract": "CO 2 methanation is a promising route for carbon utilization, yet conventional processes remain constrained by their reliance on externally supplied H 2 and specialized catalysts. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a self-sustained Sabatier reaction based on the submerged photosynthesis of crystallites (SPSC). In this single aqueous system, metallic Fe and Mg powders react with carbonated water to generate H 2 and CH 4 near room temperature without an added methanation catalyst. Light irradiation accelerates the production of both gases. CH 4 production scales approximately in proportion with H 2 generation across diverse reaction conditions, with both gases exhibiting similar apparent activation energies. During the reaction, plate-like FeCO 3 forms on the Fe surface, while Mg addition modifies this carbonate structure to enhance relative CH 4 formation at longer reaction times. Scavenger experiments confirm the pivotal role of electron transfer in gas production. These results demonstrate that metal oxidation, electron transfer, and surface-bound carbonate reactions drive SPSC-methanation, successfully integrating in situ H 2 generation, CH 4 formation, and metal carbonate crystallization without external H 2 input.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Center for Advanced Research of Energy and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan, 060-8628",
    "Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan, 060-8628"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lihua Zhang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4750-3815"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Daichi Uchikawa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Hiroki Kumai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Takaya Fujii"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yuki Tanaka"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Seiichi Watanabe"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fs59ak21b5vw8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15010529/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fs59ak21b5vw8",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010529/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1503|Catalysts for Methane Reforming"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221985765",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010529/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fs59ak21b5vw8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15010529",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15010529/v2"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1503|Catalysts for Methane Reforming",
      "subfield": "catalysis"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Self-Sustained Sabatier Reaction via Submerged Photosynthesis",
  "title_text": "Self-Sustained Sabatier Reaction via Submerged Photosynthesis",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fs59ak21b5vw8",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}