Electrocatalysts and photo-electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction
Christophe Colbeau-Justin (Professor), Mohamed N. Ghazzal (Associate Professor)
Alumni: Maria Guadalupe Méndez-Medrano (PhD)
TEM images of a) CuO0.5%/P25 with b) the corresponding histogram of the size distribution of CuO nanoaggregates, and c) HAADF-STEM of BF-STEM images of CuO0.5%/P25 with FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) images for CuO planes.
We develop and study copper-based catalysts that are highly active and selective for CO2 reduction [Mendez2020]. The addition of a second metal enhances both the selectivity and activity of the electrochemical reaction. For instance, bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) based on copper and synthesized by radiolysis (Figure) have demonstrated significant activity for the conversion of CO2 into formic acid and acetic acid. These findings highlight the synergistic effects of bimetallic catalysts for CO2 valorization. Additionally, new carbon-based materials and organometallic complexes are being developed for the efficient conversion of CO2 into methanol (European ACT project "NEXTCCUS").
Collaborations
The consortium includes the Institute for Materials Discovery, University College London, UK; Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, USA; Argonne National Laboratory, USA; Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CNR, Rome, Italy; Mechanical Engineering Department, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, Heraklion, Greece; Institute of Emerging Technologies (I-emerge) of HMU Research Center, Heraklion, Greece; IRCELYON, University of Lyon 1; ICMMO, University of Paris-Saclay.