Sustainable fuel production through earth abundant catalysts

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Conventional carbon-based fossil fuel combustion currently supplies over 80% of the global energy demand. However, this process yields oxidized byproducts such as greenhouse gases that have been heavily linked to global warming. This, along with the ever-growing global population, has driven the research field of carbon-free alternative fuels production. One example of an alternative fuel is molecular hydrogen (H2), which produces environmentally benign water (H2O) as the sole product upon combustion, making H2 an attractive alternative fuel of the future. Current state-of-the-art technologies for H2 production uses scarce, and thus expensive, metals such as platinum, which is economically undesirable. The cost effective production of H2 will be key to its widespread use industrially. In addition, the chemical reduction of CO2 into reusable fuels remains an attractive route of closing the anthropogenic cycle from fossil fuel combustion.******This proposal outlines the overarching goals of my research program, which will support 12 undergraduate and 2 M.Sc. students over the next 5 years, focusing on the development of inexpensive, water stable transition metal catalysts for H2 production. The production of H2 from H2O can be split into two reaction: H2O oxidation and proton (H+) reduction. Central to both reactions is the transport of H+ to and from the metal active site. Thus, the key catalyst design involves attaching H+ shuttling functionalities onto target ligand scaffolds, which is envisaged to exhibit accelerated reaction rates in comparison to catalysts without these functionalities. Modular ligand syntheses allow for subtle structural and electronic tuning of target complexes to reveal optimal catalytic properties under both electrocatalytic and photocatalytic conditions. Catalysts investigated in these projects can also be put towards CO2 reduction, and their covalent immobilization onto solid electrodes will yield heterogeneous catalysts. These future directions will introduce exciting new dimensions into my research program, potentially leading to industrial collaborations where heterogeneous catalysis is commonplace. ******Through these projects, students will gain HQP training in modern synthetic techniques, spectroscopic characterization and catalytic evaluations of molecular transition metal complexes and their covalently immobilized counterparts. I fully expect students graduating from my laboratory to be well-equipped with knowledge and skills necessary for a successful scientific career in both academia or industry, in Canada or worldwide.