Electrochemical promotion of nano-structured catalysis for green house gas mitigation

该研究计划的主要目标是利用电化学促进催化（EPOC）的概念，为绿色家庭气体减排提供高效节能的途径。感兴趣的反应是甲烷燃烧和CO2加氢。所提出的创新工艺和催化剂设计将消除对高温和高压的需要，并导致更高的转化率和所需的产物选择性，用于将CO2加氢为C2和C3产物。电促进科学的最新进展，特别是高分散纳米结构催化剂的开发和应用将有助于该项目的推进。EPOC也被称为非法拉第电化学改性催化活性（NEMCA）是一个很有前途的概念，用于改善催化过程和推进催化前沿。这一创新的催化领域旨在以可逆和可控的方式改变催化剂的活性和选择性。EPOC利用固体电解质（离子传导陶瓷）作为催化剂载体。来自固体电解质的离子（O2-、H+、Na+、K+、OH-等）以电化学方式提供给催化剂表面，并作为促进物质来改变催化剂的电子性质，以获得最佳的催化性能。EPOC通过简单地改变催化剂膜的电势，提供了在反应条件下改变催化剂表面的助催化剂水平的独特手段。此外，O2-或H+等促进物质不能通过气态吸附形成，也不能轻易通过化学方式加入。已经观察到大量的化学反应，促进了各种催化剂的支持系统的EPOC。这些包括在化学合成的不同领域中至关重要的反应系统，包括商品和精细化学品的生产以及减少汽车排放。鉴于上述情况，电化学促进通过原位提供离子促进剂，消除了对高温和高压的需求，为选择性CO2加氢和甲烷燃烧反应开辟了全新的视角。 目前的项目将解决电促进科学的主要问题：在纳米尺度上将分散的催化剂与电化学活化偶联。这一突破将为系统研究促进剂在其他重要技术体系中的作用开辟新的视角，从而为设计高效的催化剂配方提供途径。此外，该项目将有助于更好地了解EPOC工艺，并从更广泛的角度了解使用促进剂的所有催化解决方案。

The main objective of the proposed research program is to use the concept of Electrochemical Promotion of Catalysis (EPOC) for efficient and energy-saving routes for green house gas mitigation. The reactions of interests are methane combustion and CO2 hydrogenation. The proposed innovative processes and catalyst design will eliminate the need for high temperature and pressure, as well as lead to higher conversions and desired product selectivity for CO2 hydrogenation to C2 and C3 products. Recent advances in electropromotion science in particular development and application of highly-dispersed nano-structured catalysts will contribute towards advancement of this project. EPOC also known as non-faradaic electrochemical modification of catalytic activity (NEMCA) is a promising concept for improving catalytic processes and advancing the frontiers of catalysis. This innovative area of catalysis aims to modify in-operando both the activity and the selectivity of catalysts, in a reversible and controlled manner. EPOC utilizes solid electrolytes (ionically conducting ceramics) as catalyst support. Ions from solid electrolytes (O2-, H+, Na+, K+, OH-, etc.) are electrochemically supplied to the catalyst surface and act as promoting species to modify the catalyst electronic properties in order to achieve optimal catalytic performance. EPOC provides a unique means of varying promoter levels at the catalyst surface under reaction conditions by simply changing the potential of the catalyst film. Moreover, promoting species such as O2- or H+ cannot be formed via gaseous adsorption and cannot be easily dosed by chemical ways. EPOC has been observed for a large number of chemical reactions promoted by a variety of catalyst-support systems. Those include reaction systems of critical importance in diverse fields of chemical synthesis including the production of commodity and fine chemicals and in the abatement of automotive emissions. In view of the above, Electrochemical Promotion opens an entire new perspective in the selective CO2 hydrogenation and methane combustion reactions by in-situ providing ionic promoters eliminating the need for high temperatures and pressures. The current project will solve the main issue of the electropromotion science: coupling dispersed catalysts at the nanometric scale with electrochemical activation. This breakthrough will open new perspectives for the systematic investigation of the role of promoters in other technological important systems, hence offering a route to design efficient catalytic formulations. In addition, the project will contribute to a better understanding of the EPOC process and, from a more general point of view, of all catalytic solutions using a promoter.