Converting Carbon Dioxide Into Fuel On Modified Electrode Surfaces
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
The PhD in question has strong ties to sustainable and green chemistry, given that these types of catalytic processes offer an affordable way to utilize the CO2 produced when fossil fuels are burned, CO2 is a key greenhouse gas that directly contributes to climate change . A number of possible reduction targets have already been identified in CO, formic acid and methanol. CO is an important feedstock for the Fischer-Tropsch process, while both methanol and formic acid are key components in new fuel cells that could one day be used in the auto-motive industry. We will be studying the synthesis of novel and affordable catalysts based on Group 6 and 7 metal centres which bear a diverse range of ligands, these catalysts can also, in principle, be coupled to a photo-anode; allowing light-driven CO2 reduction to occur. Also studied will be the behaviour of these catalysts in ionic liquids which can be vastly different to their behaviour in normal solutions. Of equal interest is the surface/interface chemistry of the catalysts when bound by phosphate anchors to solid TiO2 and the co-operative effects of having a molecular catalyst and redox-active nanoparticles of copper in the same system. Of course, the PhD will have a strong foundation in molecular scale analytical techniques, particularly with regard to spectroelectrochemistry which can offer real insight into the processes that are occurring during the reduction of CO2. Infrared, UV-Vis, NMR and EPR spectroscopy will all play a critical role in structure determination.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Frantisek Hartl (Primary Supervisor) | |
| James Taylor (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509723/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1808936 | Studentship | EP/N509723/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2019 | James Taylor |
| Description | We have been able to develop our understanding of periodic Group 6 (Cr, Mo, W) metal catalysts for CO2 activation. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, and by product of industrialized society. Alongside other carbon capture and storage technologies (e.g. using supercrictical Co2 in the waterless production of dyes) the direct electrochemical conversion of CO2 to a more useful product has captivated scientific community for sometime. We look at converting CO2 to small molecules such as CO, methanol, methane, for use in petrochemical industry as feedstocks, as well as in the next generation of fuel cells - to make a truly sustainable energy chain. The conversion requires a metal catalyst, which in the past has always been based on rare, expensive metals such as Rhenium. Group 6 metals are much more abundant and more environmentally friendly, but are not well understood. My research has contributed to this understanding, by exploring the different catalysts and assessing their behavior. We have also discovered some interesting effects by varying the material of the electrode in question - in particular using a gold electrode seems to improve the catalyst's ability remarkably. |
| Exploitation Route | We can study the different ligands and conditions to find the best for CO2 reduction. The cooperative effect of Au electrode is also already under investigation by several other people in the field. We have also investigated a new photo-electrohemical route to low-energy production of the catalysts. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Energy |
| URL | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.organomet.8b00676 |
| Description | DTP 2016-2017 University of Reading |
| Amount | £549,086 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/N509723/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Research Travel Grant |
| Amount | £428 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 1718103 |
| Organisation | University of Reading |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2018 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Title | 2D-IR SEC |
| Description | This new technique represents the first time that 2D-IR has been successfully measured using a OTTLE cell (operating in transmission mode). The combination of spectroelectrochemistry and 2D-IR allows one to measure spectra of a range of materials in different oxidation states, deconvuluting complicated spectra, or gaining more insight into the dynamics behind fundamental processes. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Talks at several conferences. 1 paper to be submitted in early spring 2019. |
| Title | Far-IR SEC |
| Description | Utilizing a newly made OTTLE cell with PTFE windows, one can measure spectra in the far-infrared range, which supports existing research in the field as many metal-metal bonds or metal-halogen bonds can be found in this region. It may give us more insight into how to explain different reactivity, processes. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | No impacts yet. |
| Title | SEC in Ionic Liquids |
| Description | We can now measure spectroelectrochemistry in new exciting media, such as ionic liquids, which are considered almost the next wonder material and are the subject of much interest across multi-displcinary fields e.g. CO2 reduction, electrolytes for batteries, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | 1 paper to be submitted in April |
| Title | SEC on graphite sheet electrodes |
| Description | Up until now spectroelectrochemistry was exclusively done on metals like Pt. With the construction of our new cell, we can now do spectroelectrochemistry on perforated carbon electrodes, which allow us to study more sensitive compounds that react with metals, or indeed, in aqueous systems, where metals such as Pt, are active toward competing H+ reduction. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | None yet - ongoing project |
| Description | 2D-IR Spectroelectrochemistry |
| Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
| Department | Central Laser Facility |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We influence the direction of the research, compounds to be studied and also the ideas. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They provide us with beamline access, training in measuring and analysis of 2D-IR spectra, as well as |
| Impact | 1 academic paper in progress, to be submitted in early spring 2019. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | DFT Studies |
| Organisation | University of Lisbon |
| Department | Department of Chemistry |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provide the experimental expertise in electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They provide the computational expertise which supports our experimental activities |
| Impact | Outcomes so far: 1 joint paper in the journal organometallics. More to follow. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | TR-IR Spectroelectrochemistry |
| Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of a novel spectroelectrochemical cell that allows combination with picosecond-to-nanosecond time-resolved infrared laser spectroscopy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to TRIR laser facilities and technical help during the experimental work. |
| Impact | First Communication of the results during the summer 2020. |
| Start Year | 2019 |