Earth-abundant Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Synthesis of Renewable Fuels

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Greenhouse gas-driven climate change has emerged as a powerful force on our planet, impacting both our environment and the decisions of world leaders. As a result, the mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and alleviation of climate change has become a hot topic of research. While many specific solutions have been proposed, all center on the common theme of eliminating our dependence on petroleum products for energy. Renewable sources of energy, like solar and wind, have been developing rapidly and offer an appealing option, but are limited in their practical utility by the intermittency of their power generation. Thus, making effective use of such renewable energy requires appropriate means of energy storage. In comparison to batteries and other common energy storage materials, renewable fuels synthesized catalytically from CO2 are especially appealing, as they promise a means of stable, long-term energy storage while simultaneously reducing the atmospheric concentration of CO2. Gas-phase heterogeneous catalysis, in particular, is able to build on decades of industrial knowledge to tackle this problem. In order to have an appreciable effect on climate change, however, it is imperative that we better understand how to optimize and produce these catalysts on an industrial scale. Goals: In order to effect CO2 reduction on a global scale, it will also be necessary to develop simple, economical, and scalable methods for synthesizing these catalysts; we will explore this by using minimal processing to prepare metal ores as use in gas-phase heterogeneous reactions. We will further advance understanding of these catalyst materials by using highly sensitive in situ characterization techniques to probe not only their active forms under realistic reaction conditions, but also the specific active sites operating at their surfaces. HQP involved in these projects will receive training in a variety of versatile materials characterization techniques, including synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopies, while gaining essential experience with inorganic synthesis and catalytic activity measurement methods. Collaboration with industrial partners will provide opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, and dedicated travel support will ensure that HQP have ample opportunity to develop their oral and written communication skills while disseminating their research at conferences on the national and international levels. Impact: Obtaining deeper insights into the surface structure and behaviour of these catalysts will enable us to identify key factors responsible for exceptional catalytic activity, leading to the next generation of high-performance materials. In conjunction with simple and cost-effective catalyst synthesis techniques, this will enable us to advance even closer to the large-scale application renewable fuel technologies and help us to break our dependence on petroleum and provide a cleaner, healthier future for generations to come.