Abstract
The growing atmospheric CO2 concentration calls for urgent action for CO2 capture in hard-to-abate industries and its use in combination with renewable energy or greenH2 for energy storage and production of liquid fuels. In this field catalytic reduction of CO2 to methanol, electro or photoelectroreduction of CO2 into liquid products (alcohols, acids which can be further converted to alcohols using H2) are key process even if they have not yet achieved results suitable for their industrial development. Here the development of a catalyst able to synergistically combining and tailoring the CO2 interaction and conversion is crucial. The unique properties of layered double hydroxides (LDH) structures in CO2 adsorption (related to basicity and high dynamic exchange rate of CO2 inside the interlayer) and their preparation flexibility (able to tailor CO2 converting active phases) can represent a breakthrough for CO2 conversion systems. Therefore, the project aims to study the interaction between CO2 and LDH and to develop catalyst and process for CO2 reduction to MeOH at high temperature and pressure and electro and photoelectro CO2 reduction routes for green fuels production in gas and liquid phases at low temperature. The project also opens the field for conversion of CO2 in diluted stream such as the one derived by direct air capture. LDHs are materials composed by inter-dispersed M2+ and M3+ cationic hydroxide nanosheets alternated with anionic layers with (Figure 1). They are very versatile materials and most M2+ and M3+ transition metals (with some M+ and M4+ also reported) and anions can be inserted (usually CO32- but also other anions which can increase the layer height and modify the thermal evolution). They can be fine-tuned in the structure giving versatile properties as such or high surface area of the derived mixed oxides obtained by calcination and reduction of LDH to oxide and metal nanoparticles. Specifically, Cu eventually combined or partially substituted with Fe, Ni or Ga depending of the tested reaction can be used as active phase. In recent years, the LDH interlayer have been also used to accommodate active phases, increasing the contact with carbonates. Finally LDH structure can be reformed on mixed oxide surface in the presence of CO2 and H2O matching the advantages of combining the formation of high surface area and basic sites of the oxide with dynamic interaction with CO2 of LDH. Notably, LDH reformation is favored in the reaction conditions used for the processes selected in the project (i.e. presence of CO2 and H2O at r.t. or at 200-300°C and high pressure). The aim of the project is i) to deepen the study of the CO2-material interaction and reactivity, ii) to use the knowledge and the unique properties of LDH to develop advanced catalysts for the three processes. iii) to define the process conditions to maximize the fuel production iv) to prove the possibility of converting CO2 during direct air capture.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Francesco Basile
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari"
Coordinator:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Total Eu Contribution: Euro (EUR) 199.147,00
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 132.000,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
28/09/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
