Descrizione del progetto
Catalizzatori su misura per migliorare l’attivazione e la conversione del metano in sostanze chimiche di valore
Il progetto ATOMISTIC, finanziato dall’UE, sta esplorando modalità attraverso cui attivare e convertire in modo efficiente il metano, un importante componente del gas naturale, in metanolo, un prezioso combustibile liquido che funge da elemento costitutivo di altre sostanze chimiche utili. Il team di ricerca sperimenterà nuovi metodi per controllare la struttura dell’interfaccia elettrochimica e del sito cataliticamente attivo al fine di regolare la selettività della reazione. Verranno progettati materiali su misura in grado di innescare l’attivazione. I ricercatori approfondiranno inoltre il rapporto che intercorre tra la struttura, la reattività e la selettività del catalizzatore. Le attività del progetto potrebbero far compiere progressi significativi nel settore della chimica e nella catalisi, offrendo modi sostenibili di produrre sostanze chimiche di valore.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsliquid fuels
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysis
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcohols
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compounds
Parole chiave
- 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
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsIstituzione ospitante
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
Spagna