McGill University researchers produce ethanol from methanol using sunlight

In Canada, Science magazine reports that researchers from McGill University have developed a method of producing ethanol from methanol by using sunlight. Using gallium nitride nanowires “spiked” with magnesium as a catalyst, following successful results producing benzene from methane gas using the same technology, they were able to absorb UV rays from sunlight, negatively charging their coils that rips water molecules from methanol, creating methyl carbene. Those methyl carbene molecules then combine with methanol to create ethanol.