Project description
Turning CO2 into fuel with nature-inspired catalysts
Floods, droughts, and heatwaves are becoming more frequent as CO2 levels keep rising. While clean energy sources like wind and solar are expanding, they do not yet meet demand around the clock. Moreover, heavy industry still leans heavily on fossil fuels. Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction offers a way out by converting CO2 into valuable fuels using green electricity. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MEASURE-CO2RR project is developing hybrid catalysts that work in water, are easy to integrate into devices, and drastically improve efficiency and selectivity. By embedding molecular catalysts into polymers, the project aims to make CO2 recycling cleaner, cheaper, and closer to real-world use.
Objective
Surging energy needs and fossil fuel reliance have triggered a concerning rise in CO2 emissions, raising the frequency of devastating climate-related disasters. Despite expanding renewable energy sources like solar and wind, their intermittent nature has spurred demand for better storage technologies due to the limitations of current batteries. Heavy industries and transport sectors still rely on fossil-based fuels. Although H2 appears as an alternative, challenges remain regarding its transport. Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (eCO2R) emerges as a solution, turning CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels (compatible with existing industrial frameworks) using green electricity.
Metal-based heterogeneous eCO2R catalysts exhibit notable stability but they face product selectivity issues, requiring energy-intensive downstream separation methods. Inspired by the active site of [NiFe]-CODH enzyme which efficiently converts CO2 to CO, many 2nd-sphere-modified molecular complexes (MCs) have been developed, showing elevated selectivity, efficiency, and stability. But most of them function within organic media, limiting their integration into devices. Moreover, synthesizing these 2nd sphere-modified MCs is highly resource-intensive.
MEASURE-CO2RR aspires to mimic the enzymatic active site on heterogeneous electrodes. This is achieved by encapsulating MCs within commercially available polymers, introducing both the 2nd-sphere (stabilizing intermediates) and tertiary-sphere effects (precise H+ delivery). Aiming to achieve high selectivity, catalytic current, and stability within an aqueous medium, MEASURE-CO2RR stands out by encompassing the development of hybrid catalytic systems, thorough mechanistic studies utilizing in-situ spectroscopic techniques, and eventual integration of these hybrid systems into CO2-electrolyzers. This marks a significant stride towards the essential industrial implementation of eCO2R, effectively aligning with the objectives of the EU Green Deal.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.