Is it possible to make an engine that is powered by carbon dioxide?

Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company has successfully tested a jet engine that burns carbon dioxide. The jet engine would "breathe" and burn the Martian atmosphere as it flies along, just like airplane jet engines breathe the air on earth. What makes this Martian jet engine unique is that the Mars atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is commonly used in fire extinguishers to put out fires on earth. Wickman engineers have developed a system where magnesium powder can be burned directly with carbon dioxide. Magnesium is believed to exist in the soil of Mars and is abundant on earth. This new jet engine would be ideally suited for the Mars Airplane

Carbon Dioxide results from combustion when Carbon chains, and Oxygen have already gone through an exothermic reaction. For CO2 to be a practical power source, it has to react with some other substance and the reaction has to be exothermic. The other substance also has to be in abundance to make the entire process practical.

Currently I am not aware of any process that can meet the above requirements...

Don't know go for it and find out. I would think that since CO2 being a by product of combustion already and not being explosive would present at huge problem for any type of conventional engine design. I do see a possibility for an air tight engine cylinder that is electrically stimulated to produce power but I think it would take alot of work.

yes. you must use the Co2 as a compressive force, ie to drive a crank, and translate hte rotation at the crank to motion at the drive train. Co2 is inert. and its a part of the combustion process, exhaust gasses are mainly carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and (water) and how do you intend to refuel this beastie?

The short answer is, "no you can't" - despite the imaginative answers given elsewhere. Carbon dioxide is, of course, the end product of any fuel containing carbon and its 'thermodynamic potential' is minimal.

I think all politicians have them; they run on hot air.

when technology developes and developes, that will be true. the future is bright.

NO..............THATS THE EXHAUST FROM A GAS POWERED MOTOR

good idea but only if the exhaust was oxygen..!