Methanol (CH₃OH)

Methanol (CH₃OH) is a simple alcohol produced from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. It is a colourless, flammable and toxic liquid used as a chemical feedstock, solvent, fuel and ingredient in products such as formaldehyde, plastics and synthetic fuels. Most methanol is currently produced from natural gas or coal, although lower-carbon alternatives can be made using renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. In laboratory hydrogen research, methanol is often used as a sacrificial agent because it reacts with charge carriers and reduces energy losses, making hydrogen generation easier to measure. However, this does not represent complete water splitting, as the methanol is consumed during the reaction. Commercial clean hydrogen systems must ultimately operate without relying on sacrificial chemicals or must account for their cost, emissions and supply impacts.