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H2020Doctoral network2019–2022

PIONEER · Plasma catalysis for CO2 recycling and green chemistry

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2019-01-01 → 2022-12-31
EU contribution
€3,826,210
Participants
22
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Plasma catalysis for CO2 recycling and green chemistry

Awareness of the impact of human activities on global warming has highlighted the importance of reducing the sources of CO2 emissions, but also the need to be able to recycle the CO2 that is inevitably emitted. Within the PIONEER consortium, our ambition is to propose new energy viable technologies for CO2 recycling based on the combination of cold plasma and catalytic materials. To achieve this, PIONEER is first and foremost aiming at educating the first generation of interdisciplinary experts with a solid background in plasma physics, catalysis and chemical engineering. Within PIONEER it is then 14 PhD students who help forge links between 15 research groups with complementary scientific expertise in 9 European countries. Converting CO2 is essential not only to limit release into the atmosphere and the oceans, but also to be able to store and transport the energy produced by renewable energy sources (wind, solar, etc...). Cold plasmas are weakly ionised gases in which a small proportion of highly energetic electrons make it possible to initiate chemical reactions without heating the gas, and at minimal energy cost. New catalytic materials have to be invented to make the most of the reactive species produced by the plasma and to control the selectivity of the reaction products formed. Thus, with the innovative plasma/catalysis coupling systems studied by the PIONEER ESRs, CO2 can be converted either with hydrogen (H2) to form methane (CH4), or to make synthetic fuels by combining CO2 and CH4 to form ethanol and methanol. The 14 doctoral projects of the PIONEER ESRs are all interconnected and study both very fundamental aspects of the complex interaction between plasma and surfaces, as well as innovative reactor designs aimed at better conversion rate performance and energy efficiency.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The main objective of the present ITN project is the formation of a new generation of experts in the subject of CO2valorization using plasma-catalytic coupled processes. Plasma intensification of CO2 valorization processes, such as CO2hydrogenation and dry reforming of methane, can greatly contribute to the stabilization of CO2 concentration in ouratmosphere through the production of synthetic fuels that will be involved in overall zero or near zero emission cycles. Thisalternative utilization of yet C-based fuels will play an important role in our transition to a 100% renewable future. Chemicaland thermochemical CO2 valorization processes are hindered by very slow reaction kinetics. Catalysts are often used but,most of the time, they either are not enough, or their utilization is not feasible under real operation conditions. The use ofplasmas in combination with a well-designed catalyst can turn this sluggish CO2 valorization processes feasible. There ishowever a complete lack of knowledge about almost every aspect of this plasma-catalysis coupling. Research efforts will bethen directed towards the understanding of CO2 plasmas, their interaction with solid catalytic surfaces, the formation ofexcited species and the fundamentals of the reaction mechanisms involved. Different plasmas and different catalysts areneeded. Novel reactor concepts need to be found. The PhD topics cover many different scientific disciplines: from the physics of plasmas to the physicochemical characterization of solid surfaces and catalysis. The students will be instructed in several fields, not only considering science but also other important skills, such as soft skills training, as well as specificformation on managing, marketing and business skills along the duration of this project. To cloture this project aEuropean conference on Plasma Catalysis for CO2 Valorization and Green Chemistry is foreseen.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • SORBONNE UNIVERSITE · ParisCoordinatorFrance
  • AFS ENTWICKLUNGS + VERTRIEBS GMBH · HorgauGermany
  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridSpain
  • AKADEMIA GORNICZO-HUTNICZA IM. STANISLAWA STASZICA W KRAKOWIE · KrakowPoland
  • CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisFrance
  • CLIMATE-KIC HOLDING BV · AmsterdamNetherlands
  • GSYF - EQUIPAMENTOS PARA ENERGIA, LDA · Caldas Da RainhaPortugal
  • INNOPHYSICS BV · EindhovenNetherlands
  • INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TECNICO · LisboaPortugal
  • ITRE SRL · Santa Maria Di SalaItaly
  • JOHNSON MATTHEY PLC · LONDONUnited Kingdom
  • SOLAYL · OrsayFrance
  • STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN · UtrechtNetherlands
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN · EindhovenNetherlands
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL · LIVERPOOLUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZA · ZaragozaSpain
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO · TrentoItaly
  • UNIVERSITATEA DIN BUCURESTI · BucurestiRomania
  • UNIVERSITE DE CAEN NORMANDIE · Caen Cedex 5France
  • UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAY · Gif-Sur-YvetteFrance
  • UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN · AntwerpenBelgium
  • UNIVERSITY OF YORK · YORK NORTH YORKSHIREUnited Kingdom

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union