Description du projet
Mettre en marche la conversion du CO2 en méthanol
Présentant un certain nombre d’avantages en tant que carburant neutre en carbone, le méthanol est un vecteur énergétique intéressant qui peut être produit en utilisant uniquement des ressources renouvelables. C’est dans ce contexte que le projet METHASOL, financé par l’UE, va créer un processus de production durable et rentable reposant sur la réduction sélective du CO2 en phase gazeuse sous l’effet de la lumière visible, avec un rendement de conversion de l’énergie solaire en méthanol de 5 %. Le consortium est composé de 14 partenaires issus de l’UE et des États membres associés (Chine et États-Unis) et inclut notamment des chercheurs internationaux en photosynthèse artificielle. Le projet permettra d’obtenir une combinaison inédite entre un système de réaction réductrice du CO2 basé sur un cadre organométallique et un nitrure de carbone graphitique pour les réactions photocatalytiques d’évolution de l’oxygène, par le biais d’une hétérojonction en forme de Z.
Objectif
Methanol is an appealing energy vectors, with attractive volumetric and gravimetric energy values, storable in liquid phase at ambient conditions of pressure and temperature, and that can be used as fuel directly or converted into chemicals or gasoline. However, its production lacks a sustainable route. Thus, the METHASOL project aims to produce methanol through a sustainable and cost-effective process based on the selective visible light driven gas phase CO2 reduction, with a solar to methanol energy conversion efficiency of 5%. During 42 months, METHASOL will gather 14 partners from EU/Associated MS, China and the USA, including some of the world’s most recognized researchers on artificial photosynthesis, to achieve a ground-breaking combination of a CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) system based on Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) and a graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-CN) for photocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), through a Z-scheme heterojunction.
Following the definition of the system specifications (WP1), a first set of materials for OER and CO2RR will be synthesised and their photocatalytic activity and stability will be screened (WP2). The most promising materials will be further analysed thanks to experimental characterisation and modelling (WP3), leading to guidelines used for designing an enhanced CO2RR and OER materials (WP4). The best systems will then be integrated through a Z-scheme heterojunction, either with or without a mediator, and tested in tailored reactors operating in the gas phase under different conditions (WP5). A complete sustainability analysis will be conducted (WP6) to ensure the clean production of methanol. The cooperation between European and Chinese research entities will be consolidated to last beyond the project lifetime through the creation of a common exploitation plan (WP7). Through its ambitious activities on photocatalyst developments for solar to methanol conversion, METHASOL will propose a new path for decarbonizing Europe.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsliquid fuels
- natural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisphotocatalysis
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcohols
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbotany
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
46022 Valencia
Espagne