Descripción del proyecto
The ADVCATALNANOMAT project covers one important topic the decarbonization of the energy sector as the core for a sustainable economy. In this direction, the synthesis of methanol and higher alcohols from CO2 and renewable H2 is considered, aiming to increase process efficiency in order to accelerate the deployment of CO2 based technologies. To achieve this, the specific objectives of the project are: i) the design of new catalytic systems based on non-layered 2D metal oxides through topochemical transformation using ultrathin layer double hydroxides (LDH) precursors, ii) optimize the reaction conditions through kinetic studies, iii) establish a relationship between structure and activity to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the active site and its reaction mechanism, supported by mathematical models and theoretical studies, and iv) test and evaluate the performance of catalysts at semi-industrial scale, bridging the gap from the laboratory to a pilot plant. Innovative materials, with particular surface properties that relates to the coordination number of metal cations, defect sites, high surface area and high metal dispersion will be prepared targeting high alcohol selectivity (C1-C5) in the hydrogenation of CO2. In this direction, multifunctional catalysts containing Cu (for non-dissociative C-O bond activation), Ni (for dissociative C-O activation), and Co (for C-C coupling) will be explored. The success of this proposal lies in the interaction of several disciplines, including material science, the use of advanced spectroscopic characterization tools including Synchrotron Light Radiation tools, chemical engineering and theoretical simulation. All these will support the proposed research and provide the necessary knowledge for the design of new catalysts. It is a very ambitious project with significant scientific, social and environmental impact, contributing to strength the know-how in the field of catalyst design and CO2 valorization.