Description du projet
Des catalyseurs sur mesure pour stimuler l’activation et la conversion du méthane en produits chimiques précieux
Le projet ATOMISTIC, financé par l'UE, examine les moyens d’activer et de convertir efficacement le méthane – un composant majeur du gaz naturel – en méthanol, un carburant liquide de valeur et un élément constitutif d’autres produits chimiques utiles. L'équipe de recherche expérimentera de nouvelles méthodes de contrôle de la structure de l’interface électrochimique et du site catalytiquement actif afin de régler la sélectivité de la réaction. Elle concevra des matériaux adaptés qui déclenchent l'activation du méthane. Les chercheurs étudieront également la relation entre la structure du catalyseur, sa réactivité et sa sélectivité. Les activités du projet pourraient faire progresser de manière considérable la chimie et la catalyse, proposant des moyens durables de produire des produits chimiques de valeur.
Objectif
Electrochemical methane activation and direct conversion to methanol is highly attractive – a dream reaction that would convert a greenhouse gas into a valuable liquid fuel in a dream device, on-site, and powered by renewable electricity. However, sustainable C-H activation and direct methane to methanol conversion at ambient conditions remain as great fundamental challenges.
My aim with ATOMISTIC is: (i) to develop new methods for electrochemical methane activation and partial oxidation, (ii) to control the structure of the electrochemical interface and the catalytically active site, in order to tune selectivity for the synthesis of valuable fuels and chemicals (such as methanol) from methane, and dimethyl carbonate from methanol. I will use 3 main strategies:
- To establish the ideal structures and electrolytes, using well-defined tailored materials that enable methane activation by its direct adsorption on the electrode material.
- To realise advanced materials that enable the indirect electrochemical activation of methane through the generation of solution phase radicals.
- To tailor the active site at the atomic level for selective methane to methanol and methanol to dimethyl carbonate oxidation reactions on functional materials.
I will elucidate the design principles and unveil the structure-reactivity-selectivity relations and the molecular mechanisms of these reactions as well as the atomic-scale structure of the catalyst materials. I will achieve these ambitious goals by leveraging my work combining the insight from model studies with experiments under realistic conditions to discover new materials. I will combine electrochemical methods, electrochemical scanning probe microscopy, in situ optical spectroscopy, online mass spectrometry and operando synchrotron-based x-ray techniques. The success of ATOMISTIC will result in significant breakthroughs in the fields of chemistry and catalysis, opening up new sustainable ways to produce valuable chemicals.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsliquid fuels
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysis
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcohols
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compounds
Mots‑clés
- Functional Materials
- Methane
- Small Molecule Activation
- Methane Activation
- Surface Modifiers
- Structure Sensitivity
- Advanced Materials
- Direct Methane Oxidation
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
- Surface Chemistry
- Electrocatalysis
- Energy Materials
- Electrosynthesis
- Active Site Engineering
- Electrolyte Effects
- Surface-Properties Relations
- Nanomaterials Engineering
- Radical Reactions
- Value-Added Chemicals
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régime de financement
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitution d’accueil
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
Espagne