CO2 CORE AT LAST

CO2 COnversion to REnewable fuels by dynamic Adsorption and Transformation on LAyered Structured based catalysts – CO2 CORE AT LAST

Principal Investigator: Alessandra Sanson
Involved Personnel: Alex Sangiorgi, Simone Casadio
Starting date: 28/09/2023
Duration: 24 months
Total Funding: 289 059,00 €
Call: PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) Missione 4 “Istruzione e Ricerca” – Componente C2 Investimento 1.1, “Fondo per il Programma Nazionale di Ricerca e Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN)” PRIN 2022 – D.D. 104 del 02/02/2022
CNR-ISSMC Role: Partner
Project Coordinator: Francesco Basile (University of Bologna), Alessandra Sanson (co-PI)
Consortium: University of Bologna (Prof. Francesco Basile), ISSMC-CNR (Dr. Alessandra Sanson)

The growing atmospheric CO2 concentration calls for urgent action for CO2 capture in hard-to-abate industries and its use in combination with renewable energy or greenH2 for energy storage and production of liquid fuels. In this field catalytic reduction of CO2 to methanol, electro or photoelectroreduction of CO2 into liquid products (alcohols, acids which can be further converted to alcohols using H2) are key process even if they have not yet achieved results suitable for their industrial development. Here the development of a catalyst able to synergistically combine and tailoring the CO2 interaction and conversion is crucial. The unique properties of layered double hydroxides (LDH) structures in CO2 adsorption (related to basicity and high dynamic exchange rate of CO2 inside the interlayer) and their preparation flexibility (able to tailor CO2 converting active phases) can represent a breakthrough for CO2 conversion systems. Therefore, the project aims to study the interaction between CO2 and LDH and to develop catalyst and process for CO2 reduction to MeOH at high temperature and pressure and electro and photoelectron CO2 reduction routes for green fuels production in gas and liquid phases at low temperature. The project also opens the field for conversion of CO2 in diluted stream such as the one derived by direct air capture.

LDHs are materials composed of alternating layers of M2+ and M3+ cations and anions, with great compositional flexibility that allows tuning their structure and properties. LDH calcination and reduction lead to the formation of mixed oxides and metal nanoparticles with a high surface area. Catalysts based on Cu, possibly combined with Fe, Ni, or Ga, are being studied to enhance interaction with carbonates and the stability of active sites. Furthermore, LDH reformation on mixed oxide surfaces in the presence of CO2 and H2O enables combining the high surface area of oxides with the dynamic CO2 interaction typical of LDH. This phenomenon is particularly favored under the project’s operating conditions (room temperature or 200-300°C and high pressure). The main goals of the project are: i) To deepen the study of CO2-material interaction and reactivity. ii) To develop advanced catalysts by leveraging the unique properties of LDH. iii) To define the optimal process conditions to maximize fuel production. iv) To demonstrate the possibility of converting CO2 captured directly from the air.