SONOCATALYSIS and SONOELECTROCATALYSIS - Understanding the effects of ultrasound in catalysis and electrocatalysis

世界上许多国家都发誓要实现《巴黎协定》的气候变化目标，提出了实现温室气体净零排放的途径。作为实现2050年气候中和目标的先决条件，他们还承诺向循环经济过渡，以减少对自然资源的压力，阻止生物多样性丧失，并创造可持续增长和就业机会。该研究计划旨在通过开发创新的、绿色的、突破性的化学和电化学过程，通过简单地使用声音，也称为声化学和声电化学，为气候变化目标和废物增值做出贡献。声波（电）化学技术是利用超声波来增强或改变化学和电化学反应，包括将声波传播到浸入固体电极的液体介质中。催化声化学和声电化学是利用超声进行多相催化和电催化的新兴化学领域。“声催化和声电催化”被认为是突破性的工艺：（i)产生高效的催化能源和环保材料，（ii）生产增值产品，而不需要使用a）昂贵和稀缺的铂族金属（PGM）材料，以及b)有毒和对环境不友好的化学品。该研究项目将填补基础知识和理解的空白，解释超声波对(i)催化材料的生产，（ii）催化和电催化过程的影响，特别关注在酸性、中性和碱性环境下的二氧化碳还原（CO2RR）、氢（HER）和氧释放（OER）反应的行为和机制。该项目的研究成果将用于开发：(i)新型、高效、耐用和低成本的催化能源材料（控制尺寸和成分的无pgc催化剂），以及（ii）创新和高效的（电）化学工艺，用于从纯水、废水、氧化水和二氧化碳饱和水中生产氢气和其他增值产品。这项研究将在加拿大第一个先进的“声化学和声电化学用于绿色氢研究”基础设施中进行，配备所需的仪器和高素质的人员，以促进材料，组件，声（电）化学过程和低温电解槽的测试和验证的创新高质量研发。从这个高度创新和范式改变的项目中产生的科学成果将有利于加拿大学术界和工业界开发和部署高效和更清洁的系统，以生产可持续能源材料和工艺。拟议的研究计划具有独特的定位，可以为加拿大在声催化和声电催化方面的开创性工作增加价值。

Many countries worldwide have vowed to the Paris Agreement's climate change targets, presenting pathways to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. As a prerequisite to achieve this 2050 climate neutrality targets, they have also pledged to transition to a circular economy to reduce pressure on natural resources, to halt biodiversity loss and to create sustainable growth and jobs. This research program proposes to contribute to the climate change targets and waste valorisation by developing innovative, green and ground-breaking chemical and electrochemical processes by simply using sound, also known as sonochemistry and sonoelectrochemistry. Sono(electro)chemistry technologies are the use of ultrasound to enhance or/and alter chemical and electrochemical reactions, involving a sound wave propagating into a liquid media, in which a solid electrode is immersed. Catalytic sonochemistry and sonoelectrochemistry are emerging fields of chemistry involving the use of ultrasound in heterogenous catalysis and electrocatalysis. "Sonocatalysis and sonoelectrocatalysis" are considered as breakthrough processes for: (i) the generation of efficient catalytic energy and environmental materials, and (ii) for the production of value-added products without the need of using a) expensive and scarce Platinum Group Metal (PGM) materials, and b) toxic and environmentally unfriendly chemicals. This research program will fill the gaps in basic knowledge and understanding that explain the effects of ultrasound on (i) the production of catalytic materials, and (ii) the catalytic and electrocatalytic processes with a particular focus on the behaviour and mechanisms of the CO2 reduction (CO2RR), hydrogen (HER) and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions in acidic, neutral and alkaline environments by undertaking an in-depth and systematic scientific approach. The findings from this program will be used to develop: (i) novel, efficient, durable and low-cost catalytic energy materials (PGM-free catalysts of controlled sizes and compositions), and (ii) innovative and efficient (electro)chemical processes for the production of hydrogen and other added-value products from pure-, waste-, oxygenated- and CO2-saturated waters. This research will be conducted in the first advanced "Sonochemistry and Sonoelectrochemistry for Green Hydrogen Research" infrastructure in Canada with the required instrumentation and highly qualified personnel to facilitate innovative high-quality R&D of materials, components, testing and validation of sono(electro)chemical processes and low-temperature electrolysers. The scientific outputs generated from this highly innovative and paradigm-changing program will benefit the Canadian academic and industrial communities in developing and deploying efficient and cleaner systems to produce sustainable energy materials and processes. The proposed research program is uniquely positioned to add value to Canada's pioneering work in sonocatalysis and sonoelectrocatalysis.