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

电解是一种使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产生时，可以从水的电解产生氢气（H2）而没有任何温室气体排放（称为“绿色H2”）。它还可以减少大气中二氧化碳的积累，并通过将其转化为甲酸盐等高附加值化学品来稳定工业二氧化碳。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，提高其效率和耐用性。该研究项目的重点是开发用于水电解和CO2还原为甲酸盐的新型Ta/Nb基催化剂。该项目将培养4名博士生、1名博士后研究员和1名本科生。如果成功，参与该项目的两家公司将拥有新的产品渠道，这将加强他们在绿色氢气行业和能源系统脱碳方面的地位。此外，它通过培训熟练劳动力和获得可靠的原材料来源，确保了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.