Project description DEENESFRITPL New insights into renewable resource production New catalysts are essential for the transition to renewable resources and reducing dependence on oil. However, current catalyst development relies heavily on trial and error, hampering a detailed understanding of each component's role. In this context, the ERC funded 3MC project proposes using 3D model catalysts as an enabling tool to address this problem. While mimicking real catalysts closely enough for industrially relevant testing, these well-defined catalysts offer unprecedented precision in varying structural parameters. By assembling ordered mesoporous silica and carbon support materials with copper-based promoted and bimetallic nanoparticles, researchers can gain insight into the mechanisms and nanoalloys that influence catalytic functionality. This will enable the rational design of novel catalysts for sustainable chemical and fuel production from renewable resources. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Currently fuels, plastics, and drugs are predominantly manufactured from oil. A transition towards renewable resources critically depends on new catalysts, for instance to convert small molecules (such as solar or biomass derived hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water and carbon dioxide) into more complex ones (such as oxygenates, containing oxygen atoms in their structure). Catalyst development now often depends on trial and error rather than rational design, as the heterogeneity of these composite systems hampers detailed understanding of the role of each of the components. I propose 3D model catalysts as a novel enabling tool to overcome this problem. Their well-defined nature allows unprecedented precision in the variation of structural parameters (morphology, spatial distribution) of the individual components, while at the same time they mimic real catalysts closely enough to allow testing under industrially relevant conditions. Using this approach I will address fundamental questions, such as:* What are the mechanisms (structural, electronic, chemical) by which non-metal promoters influence the functionality of copper-based catalysts?* Which nanoalloys can be formed, how does their composition influence the surface active sites and catalytic functionality under reaction conditions?* Which size and interface effects occur, and how can we use them to tune the actitivity and selectivity towards desired products?Our 3D model catalysts will be assembled from ordered mesoporous silica and carbon support materials and Cu-based promoted and bimetallic nanoparticles. The combination with high resolution characterization and testing under realistic conditions allows detailed insight into the role of the different components; critical for the rational design of novel catalysts for a future more sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from renewable resources. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compoundsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelssocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-CoG-2014 - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Net EU contribution € 1 999 625,00 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 999 625,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Netherlands Net EU contribution € 1 999 625,00 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 999 625,00
