Utilisation of Solar Energy and Electrocatalytic Processes for the Low Energy Conversion of CO2 to Fuels and Chemicals

One of the major current scientific and technological challenges concerns the conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels and useful products in effective and economically viable manner. This proposal responds to the major challenge of developing low energy routes to convert carbon dioxide to fuels and useful chemicals. The project has the following four main strands:

(i) The use of electricity generated by renewable technologies to reduce CO2 electrocatalytically, where we will develop new approaches involving the use of ionic liquid solvents to activate the CO2

(ii) The use of hydrogen in the catalytic reduction of CO2, where we will apply computational procedures to predict new materials for this key catalytic process and subsequently test them experimentally

(iii) The development of new materials for use in the efficient solar generation of hydrogen which will provide the reductant for the catalytic CO2 reduction

(iv) A detailed life cycle analysis which will assess the extent to which the new technology achieves the overall objective of developing low carbon fuels.

Our approach aims, therefore, to exploit renewably generated energy directly via the electrocatalytic route or indirectly via the solar generated hydrogen in CO2 utilisation for the formation of fuels and/or chemicals. The different components of the approach will be fully integrated to achieve coherent, new low energy technologies for this key process, while the rigorous life-cycle analysis will ensure that it satisfies the need for a low energy technology.

The project will develop an integrated approach to CO2 conversion by photo-catalysis, thermal catalysis and electro-catalysis, driven by renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and nuclear energy. These are topics of great economic and societal relevance with substantial potential impact. Acquiring an improved fundamental understanding of these processes by modelling and functional characterisation will provide us with a strong basis for the design of low energy routes for CO2 to fuel synthesis.

There are three compelling societal driving forces for this research: (i) enhanced energy security, (ii) development of renewable fuels, and (iii) the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The UK government has committed to cut CO2 emission by 80 % by 2050. In order to realise this commitment, the demanding goal of developing clean and renewable energy with cheap and abundant natural resources must be achieved. Solar, nuclear and wind energy are regarded as the most suitable renewable energy sources to realise this goal.

Owing to its intrinsic economic and societal relevance the project will have wide impact, specifically in the following fields of substantial relevance to UK and international industry

(i) Solar energy technologies , especially related to solar generation of hydrogen

(ii) Technologies for conversion of CO2 to fuel and chemicals

(iii) Catalytic technologies for CO2 conversion

(iv) Ionic liquid technologies

(v) Electrocatalytic technologies

The project will also have broad and general impact in the areas of energy science and CO2 utilisation.

Our pathways to impact will ensure the maximum development of these and related impacts by strong engagement with potential users throughout the project.

The enabling technology developed will also benefit the UK economy by providing highly trained research workers whose skills will be necessary for R&D programmes required for market innovation to occur. The management and dissemination plans are designed to maximise impact. The research team assembled has significant experience in the dissemination of their research and promoting it to a wide range of stakeholders.