Photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction to chemicals and fuels

Over the last 70 years, chemist have been striving to develop Artificial photosynthesis (AP), which mimics nature by using sunlight to generate energy-rich chemicals "solar fuels" and "solar feedstocks" from abundant sources (i.e. H2O, CO2, N2). Although AP could provide the required "rapid and far-reaching" transition required to reach "net zero" CO2 emissions, no efficient, scalable, directly applicable system has been developed so far. Electrochemical reduction of CO2 which utilizes electricity from renewable sources offers a plausible way of using surplus energy from renewable sources and already installed conventional facilities for fuel storage and distribution, is a straight-forward method for large-scale installations. Nonetheless, challenges on low catalyst selectivity, activity and stability, and low overall efficiency hinder further development. A photo-electrochemical system integrated with photo and electrochemical catalysis may provide an answer.
Building on developments by Yu and Gibson on electrochemical and photo catalysis, as well as Beattie's expertise in solar energy (Northumbria University), combining expertise across science and engineering, the aim of the project is to develop a commercially viable "solar fuel" technology with a robust, high efficiency system. Initially, a solar cell will be integrated into an electrochemical reactor which contains an established oxygen evolving catalyst (e.g. CoPi) deposited on the anode and a CO2 reduction catalyst (e.g. cobalt porphyrin, metal oxides) at the cathode. A gas diffusion electrode (GDE) will be assembled as the cathode to minimise CO2 mass transport limitation. Secondly, the interface between the cathode and the electrolyte will be modified, to incorporate pigments to drive photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction to C1 product (CO and formate) and, then, to incorporate novel catalysts to produce longer chain products with the synergy from photo and electrochemical activity. Results will be disseminated through presentations at UK and international conferences and publications in leading scientific journals.

ReNU's enhanced doctoral training programme delivered by three uniquely co-located major UK universities, Northumbria (UNN), Durham (DU) and Newcastle (NU), addresses clear skills needs in small-to-medium scale renewable energy (RE) and sustainable distributed energy (DE). It was co-designed by a range of companies and is supported by a balanced portfolio of 27 industrial partners (e.g. Airbus, Siemens and Shell) of which 12 are small or medium size enterprises (SMEs) (e.g. Enocell, Equiwatt and Power Roll). A further 9 partners include Government, not-for-profit and key network organisations. Together these provide a powerful, direct and integrated pathway to a range of impacts that span whole energy systems.

Industrial partners will interact with ReNU in three main ways: (1) through the Strategic Advisory Board; (2) by providing external input to individual doctoral candidate's projects; and (3) by setting Industrial Challenge Mini-Projects. These interactions will directly benefit companies by enabling them to focus ReNU's training programme on particular needs, allowing transfer of best practice in training and state-of-the-art techniques, solution approaches to R&D challenges and generation of intellectual property. Access to ReNU for new industrial partners that may wish to benefit from ReNU is enabled by the involvement of key networks and organisations such as the North East Automotive Alliance, the Engineering Employer Federation, and Knowledge Transfer Network (Energy).

In addition to industrial partners, ReNU includes Government organisations and not for-profit-organisations. These partners provide pathways to create impact via policy and public engagement. Similarly, significant academic impact will be achieved through collaborations with project partners in Singapore, Canada and China. This impact will result in research excellence disseminated through prestigious academic journals and international conferences to the benefit of the global community working on advanced energy materials.