SusChEM: Novel Electrochemical CO2 Conversion Systems with CO2-Expanded Liquids

SusChEM：采用 CO2 膨胀液体的新型电化学 CO2 转化系统

• 批准号: 1605524
• 负责人: Kevin Leonard
• 金额: $ 45万
• 依托单位: University of Kansas Center for Research Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-08-01 至 2020-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1605524&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SusChEM; Novel; Electrochemical; CO2; Conversion

The project will convert the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) to chemical and fuel products utilizing electrocatalysis in combination with liquid-phase CO2 media known as Carbon dioxide eXpanded Liquids (CXLs). Capture and valorization of CO2 produced by combustion processes is one of the greatest technological challenges faced by society. The project represents a new approach that concentrates CO2 via CXLs, thereby improving the selectivity and faradaic efficiency of the electocatalytic process leading to product generation. This innovation overcomes the key challenge of processing dilute gaseous CO2, and enables development of a practical process for converting CO2 to value-added products. The project will broadly train graduate and undergraduate students in electrochemistry, materials science, and reaction engineering, and will share the importance of managing emissions of greenhouse gases with elementary school children through summer science camp experiences.The study will develop the first proof-of-concept demonstration of electrochemical cells that interface the traditional three-electrode configuration of physical electrochemistry with reactors designed to allow generation of CXLs from solvents pressurized with CO2. Fundamental research on these new conditions will reveal how CXLs influence the rates and selectivities of CO2 reduction, important considerations because CO2 serves as both the reactant and a co-solvent. This approach is expected to overcome the major challenges that hinder electrochemical CO2 conversion: CO2 starvation and parasitic proton reduction (i.e., generation of hydrogen gas). More broadly, the research has potential to transform the field by expanding the range of catalytic materials and electrolytes that can be deployed in CXL media. By paving the way for effective CO2 utilization both as co-solvent and reactant, the CXL-based technology will contribute to the reduction of global warming and the adverse effects of climate change, while easing industrial dependence on fossil fuels. Educational aspects will include the recruitment of underrepresented groups through existing and new partnerships with Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU). Results from this research will be used to develop case studies for current graduate and undergraduate courses.

该项目将利用电催化与称为二氧化碳膨胀液（cxl）的液相二氧化碳介质相结合，将温室气体二氧化碳（CO2）转化为化学和燃料产品。燃烧过程产生的二氧化碳的捕获和增值是社会面临的最大技术挑战之一。该项目代表了一种通过cxl浓缩二氧化碳的新方法，从而提高了导致产品生成的电催化过程的选择性和法拉第效率。这一创新克服了处理稀释气体二氧化碳的关键挑战，并使开发将二氧化碳转化为增值产品的实用工艺成为可能。该项目将广泛培训电化学、材料科学和反应工程方面的研究生和本科生，并将通过暑期科学营的经历与小学生分享管理温室气体排放的重要性。该研究将开发电化学电池的第一个概念验证演示，该电池将传统的三电极物理电化学配置与设计用于从CO2加压溶剂中生成cxl的反应器相结合。对这些新条件的基础研究将揭示cxl如何影响CO2还原的速率和选择性，这是重要的考虑因素，因为CO2既是反应物又是助溶剂。这种方法有望克服阻碍电化学CO2转化的主要挑战：CO2饥饿和寄生质子还原（即氢气的产生）。更广泛地说，该研究有可能通过扩大可部署在CXL介质中的催化材料和电解质的范围来改变该领域。通过为有效利用二氧化碳作为助溶剂和反应物铺平道路，基于cxl的技术将有助于减少全球变暖和气候变化的不利影响，同时减轻工业对化石燃料的依赖。教育方面将包括通过与传统黑人学院和大学（HBCU）的现有和新的合作伙伴关系招收代表性不足的群体。这项研究的结果将用于为当前的研究生和本科课程开发案例研究。