Photo-, Electro-, and ThermoCATalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into building blocks for sustainable chemicals (PET CAT)

The PET CAT project

CO₂ is fascinating as it is the carbon source for plants and thereby life, but also represents a threat to humankind through global warming, In the transition to the post-fossil economy, captured CO₂ represents a carbon source for the next generation chemical process industry. We envisage that CO₂ will become the carbon building block for all kinds of essential chemicals: polymers, pharmaceuticals, lubricants, solvents, fuels, detergents, paints, etc. To facilitate this green and sustainable transition, scientists first need to master the activation and steer the reactivity of CO₂ towards added-value organic molecules in a robust manner.

Our scope encompasses both physics and chemistry, and communication across the disciplines is presently the major bottleneck for further advancement. We are convinced that we can find the solution to sustainable CO₂ conversion by fundamentally integrating photo-, electro- and thermal catalysis. Success requires a long term concerted effort to which we are wholly committed, as is evidenced by the involvement of the research groups under the Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) umbrella. A prerequisite and necessary first step to reach our ambitious goal is to develop a unified platform for the three catalytic approaches, which is exactly what we will achieve in this project.

The candidates

 Elif Tezel -  The main objective of my project is to investigate the design criteria for an active and stable metal-organic framework (MOF)-based composite catalyst for hydrogenation of CO₂ to useful chemicals. We synthesize MOFs and then modify them by embedding metal nanoparticles as active catalytic sites. While we are trying to improve MOF design, we are also investigating the effects of the nature of the metal active sites and metal-support interactions on the performance. The composite catalysts are characterized using different techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), thermal analyzer (TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements. The characterization techniques is being coupled with catalytic testing experiments to shed light on relations between the structural properties of MOF-based composite catalysts and their performance for CO₂ hydrogenation.

Henrik Petlund - The aim of my project is to develop novel and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for conversion of CO₂ into value-added chemicals (methanol, ethanol, ethylene, etc.). This is approached by methods such as electrodeposition, exsolution and galvanic replacement. During this, reactor design and optimisation will be a key focus. In my project we aim at synthesising electrocatalysts for the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO2RR) with higher selectivity, activity and stability towards value-added chemicals such as methanol, ethanol, ethylene, etc. Efforts will be put into developing facile synthesis routes using earth-abundant materials for low-cost upscaling. Reactor design is also pivotal in order to achieve high throughput, optimised mass transport conditions and meet industrial standards. Hence, a key part of the project will be on reactor simulations, engineering and optimisation. Several synthetic and analytical methods will be employed for the development of advanced catalysts such as exsolution, electrodeposition, galvanic replacement reaction (GRR), electron microscopy, electrochemical characterisation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main objective of this work is to contribute to research needed to globally establish a sustainable and circular carbon economy.

Walace Peterle Soares Kierulf-Vieira - To meet the overall goal of PETCat, my PhD project focuses on the development of well-defined nanostructured model catalysts and studies of their performance for both photo- and thermal catalytic conversion of CO₂ at realistic process conditions. We expect to gain new fundamental insight on how to tune materials parameters. This will allow us to design novel catalytic nanostructures that utilize in a synergistic manner both thermal energy and solar light to provide enhanced CO₂ conversion activity and product selectivity.

The project relies on controlled nanoparticle synthesis using colloidal synthesis routes. We will investigate how the obtained bimetallic nanoparticle’s plasmonic energy and catalytic activity is dictated by alloying, element distribution, particle size as well as integration onto/into the support. EELS (electron energy loss spectroscopy) and PL (photo luminescence) will give us insight into the plasmonic response of the nanostructures, and operando/in-situ TEM (transmission electron microscopy) operated at realistic CO₂ conversion conditions will provide knowledge on catalyst stability and performance.  

Master students

Goda Sypalyte is an MSc student in chemistry who also contributes to the development of thermal catalysts for CO2 conversion. One of the main issues in the application of MOF matrices as supports for redox catalysts is related to their poor electric conductivity. Goda's project is focussed on improving MOF conductivity by engineering the node chemistry of UiO topologies. MSc students Live Bjørnereim Lybekk and Philip Andree Mørch contribute actively to the project with their systematic work on developing mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles will control on particle size and alloying.

Main partcipants

Stian Svelle - project leader

Petra Szilagiy - Main supervisor

Anja Sjåstad - Main supervisor

Sakis Chatzitakis - Main supervisor

Unni Olsbye, Mamou Amedjkouh, Ola Nilsen, Øystein Prytz, Ainara Nova, Helmer Fjellvåg - project group members

Sustainability

The primary sustainability aspect of this project is related to goals 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and 12 (responsible consumption and production). Targets 9.2, 9.4, and 9.5 address sustainable industry through research and innovation, and in this project we aim to advance our understanding of the underlying science that will permit this. Also, production of essential chemicals from captured and recycled CO₂ rather than fossil carbon sources is the essence of targets 12.2 - sustainable and efficient use of natural resources - and 12.4 - environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.

Moreover, the project also impacts goals 4, 7, 13, and 14. We highlight in particular 7.4 - clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology – which can be related to sustainable production of fuels from CO₂. Further, carbon capture and utilization directly impacts also target 14.3 – minimize ocean acidification – which is a direct function of the CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere.