SusChEM: Mechanistic examination and design of multifunctional heterogeneous photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis

NSF化学部的化学催化计划(CAT)支持加州大学河滨分校的Phillip Christopher教授努力阐明控制太阳能驱动的人工光合作用(AP)反应性能的基本机制，即将CO2+H2O转化为燃料。具体地说，将研究金属负载半导体(沉积在二氧化钛和GaN：ZnO上的Rh、Ru和Ni)上与H2O裂解、CO2甲烷化和H2O形成相关的动力学，作为催化剂特性和工艺变量的函数。催化活性中心将被设计来优化AP的性能，纳米级的传质控制将被用来控制活性中心上反应中间体的浓度。将探索在反应体系中添加热刺激的效果，这被假设为显著提高反应速度。总体目标是确定最大限度地提高H2O分解和二氧化碳甲烷化的速度，同时最大限度地减少H2O生成的材料和条件，以通过利用热催化和光催化步骤的独特反应途径促进整个AP过程。全球对能源和化学工业不可持续的化石资源的依赖已导致大量二氧化碳和H2O排放到大气中。开发利用太阳能将二氧化碳和水直接转化为燃料和化学品(人工光合作用，AP)的战略是环境和能源可持续发展最有吸引力的解决方案。克里斯托弗教授和他的同事将把对反应机理的基本见解与纳米级反应工程结合起来，设计更高效的AP催化剂。加州大学河滨分校、河滨社区学院和当地中学的学生将从这项多学科研究工作中的实践教育中受益匪浅。

The Chemical Catalysis Program (CAT) of the NSF Division of Chemistry supports Professor Phillip Christopher of the University of California, Riverside in efforts to elucidate the elementary mechanisms that control performance for the solar driven artificial photosynthesis (AP) reaction, CO2 + H2O conversion to fuels. Specifically, the kinetics associated with H2O splitting, CO2 methanation and H2O formation will be studied on metal loaded semiconductors (Rh, Ru and Ni deposited on TiO2 and GaN:ZnO) as a function of catalyst characteristics and process variables. Catalytically active sites will be engineered to optimize AP performance and nano-scale mass transfer control will be utilized to manipulate concentrations of reaction intermediate at active sites. The effect of adding a thermal stimulus to the reacting system will be explored, which is hypothesized to significantly enhance reaction rates. The overall objective is to identify materials and conditions that maximize the rates of H2O splitting and CO2 methanation while minimizing H2O formation to facilitate the overall AP process through a unique reaction pathway that exploits thermo- and photo-catalytic steps.Global reliance on unsustainable fossil resources for energy and chemical industries has resulted in the release of massive quantities of CO2 and H2O into the atmosphere. The development of strategies that harness solar energy for direct CO2 and H2O conversion to fuels and chemicals (artificial photosynthesis, AP) are the most appealing solutions for environmental and energy sustainability. Professor Christopher and coworkers will combine fundamental insights into the reaction mechanism with nano-scale reaction engineering to design more efficient AP catalysts. Students from UC Riverside, Riverside community college and local middle schools will significantly benefit from hands on education in this multidisciplinary research effort.