Project description
Turning CO₂ directly into valuable aromatic chemicals with novel catalysts
Benzene, toluene and xylene are among the most important building blocks in the chemical industry. Current synthetic methods rely on fossil fuels and are inefficient. Converting CO₂ directly into these compounds would simultaneously utilise carbon and reduce dependence on petrochemicals. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SINCO2AC project aims to enable this by developing a highly efficient, reactor-based ‘tandem catalytic system’. It will combine an innovative iron-molybdenum nitride catalyst with an engineered zeolite to achieve direct CO₂ conversion with over 45 % conversion efficiency and 80 % selectivity toward aromatic products. Cutting-edge real-time spectroscopic techniques could illuminate the underlying reaction mechanisms, guiding the rational design of stable, high-performance catalysts for sustainable CO₂ valorisation into high-value chemicals.
Objective
This project aims to develop a highly efficient and stable tandem catalytic system for the direct conversion of CO2 to benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). Current methanol-mediated routes suffer from low CO2 conversion and rapid deactivation due to temperature mismatch and catalyst instability. To address this, we propose a modified CO2-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (CO2-FTS) pathway using a bifunctional catalyst system: O2-passivated Fe2N/γ-Mo2N coupled with strategically modified HZSM-5 zeolite. The catalyst design employs a MoOₓ/γ-Mo2N support with abundant oxygen vacancies for efficient CO2 activation via reverse water-gas shift. Controlled O2 passivation creates interfacial Fe-O-Mo species that act as dynamic oxygen buffers, protecting the active Fe2N phase from oxidation and enhancing durability. The HZSM-5 component is engineered through dealumination and silanation to optimize acid site distribution and pore architecture, maximizing BTX selectivity while suppressing heavy aromatics and coke formation. Advanced characterization techniques, including modulation excitation spectroscopy (MES) coupled with operando XAS and DRIFTS, will be employed to resolve surface dynamics and reaction intermediates under working conditions. The project targets high performance metrics of >45% CO2 conversion and >80% BTX selectivity within the aromatic fraction. This multidisciplinary approach combining innovative catalyst design, sophisticated zeolite engineering, and cutting-edge operando diagnostics offers a sustainable and industrially relevant route for CO2 valorization into high-value chemicals.
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.
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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-2025-PF
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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.
WC1E 6BT London
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.