Valorization of niobium and tantalum for the production of low carbon intensity fuels: water electrolysis and CO2 conversion into value added products

电解是一种利用直流电进行非自发化学反应的过程。当电力由可再生能源生产时，通过电解水生产氢气是可能的，而不会排放任何温室气体(称为“绿色氢气”)。它还可以减少大气中二氧化碳的积累，并通过将工业二氧化碳转化为甲酸盐等高附加值化学品来对其进行估价。电极和催化剂是电解技术的核心，但需要在先进材料方面进行大量研究，以降低这些技术的成本，提高它们的效率和耐用性。本研究项目致力于开发新型的Ta/Nb基水电解和二氧化碳还原制甲酸催化剂。它将培养四名博士后，一名博士后研究员和一名本科生。如果成功，参与该项目的两家公司将有新的产品渠道，这将加强它们在绿色氢气行业和能源系统脱碳方面的定位。此外，它还通过培训熟练工人和获得安全的原材料来源，确保魁北克和加拿大在制造业和能源部门的地位。最后，它将通过经济和能源系统的脱碳来改善空气质量。

Electrolysis is a process in which a direct current is used to perform a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. It is possible to produce hydrogen (H2) from the electrolysis of water without any greenhouse gas emissions (called "green H2") when electricity is produced from renewable sources. It can also be a way to reduce the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere and to valorize industrial CO2 by converting it into high value-added chemicals such as formate salts. Electrodes and catalysts are at the core of electrolysis technologies, but significant research efforts in advanced materials are needed to reduce the costs of these technologies, to improve their efficiency and durability. This research project focuses on the development of new Ta/Nb-based catalysts for water electrolysis and CO2 reduction to formate. It will train four PhD students, one postdoctoral research fellow and one undergraduate student.If successful, the two companies involved in the project will have new avenues for their products which will strengthen their positioning in the green hydrogen industry and in the decarbonization of energy systems. In addition, it secure Quebec and Canada's positions in the manufacturing and energy sectors through the training of skilled labour and through access to a secure source of raw materials. Finally, it will contribute to improve the air quality through the decarbonization of the economy and energy systems.