Project description DEENESFRITPL Novel catalysts help turn CO2 into fuel and chemicals Catalysts are essential components of chemical reactions, both those occurring in nature and those engineered for applications. Without them, many reactions would not proceed or would do so at rates so slow that they would be rendered useless. Electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to other chemicals is one of these reactions. It is an important way to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and foster a circular economy, but the current catalysts are highly inefficient. The EU-funded STRATCAT-CO2 project will develop techniques to enhance the catalytic conversion of CO2 to ethanol and ethylene, a key fuel and a chemical building block, respectively. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective By enabling the use of CO2 as a medium for energy storage and as a feedstock for chemical production, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 (eCO2RR) is a potentially transformative technology for the European chemical and energy sectors in view of the European Union’s climate action roadmap. Ethanol and ethylene are high-value eCO2RR products with key roles as a fuel and as a chemical building block, respectively. However, current electrocatalysts are very inefficient in producing these multi-carbon compounds. This action proposes the investigation of an exciting and highly innovative strategy in eCO2RR catalysis—based on functionalizing the catalyst surface with tailored thiol ligands—with a clear potential to overcome the mechanistic hurdles toward C2 product formation. To this end, STRATCAT-CO2 will adopt an interdisciplinary approach combining model catalysts, state-of-the-art characterization, and a close synergy between experimental and theoretical research to gain a mechanistic understanding of surface functionalization that can guide catalyst development. In addition, this action will build bridges between fundamental efforts and electrode and device engineering to achieve breakthrough performance under conditions relevant for practical implementation. STRATCAT-CO2 will provide fresh perspectives in catalyst design for the eCO2RR and, by reaching the foreseen performance targets, set the basis for the development of new electrochemical processes for ethanol and ethylene production. Furthermore, this action will establish an intra-European interdisciplinary network between emerging researchers at DTU and TU Delft. STRATCAT-CO2 will allow the Experienced Researcher to consolidate a diverse set of technical competences uniquely suited for cutting-edge catalysis research, gain skills and credentials in teaching and supervision, and expand his collaboration network, thereby strengthening his career prospects toward achieving research independence. Fields of science natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistrynatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysiselectrocatalysisnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compoundsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET Net EU contribution € 207 312,00 Address ANKER ENGELUNDS VEJ 101 2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn 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 € 207 312,00
