Earth-abundant Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Synthesis of Renewable Fuels

地球丰富的多相催化剂用于合成可再生燃料

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-03162
• 负责人: Duchesne, Paul
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=747852
• 关键词: Earth; abundant; Heterogeneous; Catalysts; Synthesis

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.

温室气体驱动的气候变化已成为我们星球上的强大力量，影响了我们的环境和世界领导人的决定。结果，缓解二氧化碳（CO2）的排放和缓解气候变化已成为研究的热门话题。尽管已经提出了许多特定的解决方案，但所有解决方案都集中在消除我们对石油产品能源产品的依赖的共同主题上。可再生能源（如太阳能和风）一直在迅速发展，并提供了一种吸引人的选择，但由于发电的间歇性，其实际实用性受到限制。因此，有效利用这种可再生能源需要适当的能量存储方式。与电池和其他常见的储能材料相比，可再生燃料从二氧化碳催化促催化的燃料特别有吸引力，因为它们承诺是一种稳定的长期储能手段，同时降低了CO2的大气浓度。尤其是气相异质催化，能够基于数十年的工业知识来解决这个问题。但是，为了对气候变化产生明显的影响，我们必须更好地了解如何在工业规模上优化和生产这些催化剂。目标：为了在全球范围内减少二氧化碳，还必须开发简单，经济和可扩展的方法来综合这些催化剂。我们将通过使用最小的加工来制备金属矿石作为气相异质反应的使用来探讨这一点。我们将通过使用高度敏感的原位表征技术来进一步提高对这些催化剂材料的理解，不仅在现实的反应条件下探测它们的活动形式，还可以探测其在其表面上运行的特定活性位点。参与这些项目的HQP将接受各种多功能材料表征技术的培训，包括基于同步加速器的X射线光谱镜，同时获得无机合成和催化活性测量方法的基本经验。与工业合作伙伴的合作将为跨学科学习提供机会，而专门的旅行支持将确保HQP有足够的机会发展他们的口头和书面沟通技巧，同时在国家和国际层面的会议上传播他们的研究。 影响：获得对这些催化剂的表面结构和行为的更深入的见解将使我们能够确定负责特殊催化活性的关键因素，从而导致下一代高性能材料。结合简单且具有成本效益的催化剂合成技术，这将使我们能够更接近大规模应用程序可再生燃料技术，并帮助我们破坏对石油的依赖，并为子孙后代提供更清洁，更健康的未来。