COUPC1 · Coupling strategies for scavenging reactive C1 intermediates in hydrogen generation
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2020-04-01 → 2022-11-30
- EU contribution
- €204,416
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Coupling strategies for scavenging reactive C1 intermediates in hydrogen generation
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. These fuels take a toll on the environment, since they cause obvious problems such as oil spills and smog filled air. The main issue being addressed with this research is the generation of alternative fuels that reduce the burning of fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic resources with the potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Once produced, hydrogen generates electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor and warm air. It holds promise for growth in both the stationary and transportation energy sectors. Water-gas shift is one of the most important industrial reactions that can be used to produce hydrogen from CO/H2O mixtures and it is catalyzed by noble-metal-based catalysts, particularly Pt and Au based ones. Industrially, the most utilized catalysts are Cu/ZnO/Al2O3. Alternatively, formic acid (HCOOH) decomposition is an important reaction due to its potential as a liquid carrier for hydrogen for use in hydrogen fuel cell technology as well as the possible role of formates as intermediates in the Water-Gas Shift reaction and Methanol synthesis. In particular, formic acid decomposition over platinum and copper-based catalysts is of interest because platinum and copper have been shown to be one of the most actives metals for HCOOH decomposition. Formic acid decomposition on platinum electrodes is also a widely-studied reaction as the elucidation of its mechanism could assist in optimizing electrocatalytic production of hydrogen and other reaction products. The main objective of this research is to uncover previously unrecognized pathways on H2 generation mediated by reactive species, such as HCOOH, and to motivate the synthesis of the functional architectures (catalysts) for the more effective coupling of the formation and scavenging functions that are involved in the reaction. These studies will serve to recognize and control such pathways in WGS reaction where they already prevail, but are not yet evident, in order to channel reactivity and selectivity towards specific target molecules (H2 and CO2).
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Recent findings have suggested the plausible involvement of formic acid (HCOOH) as a gaseous molecular shuttle in WGS reaction , which is specifically promoted by oxides (ZnO, CeO2, TiO2) that are known to selectively dehydrate HCOOH (microreverse of HCOOH formation from CO and H2O) and metals (Cu, Pt, Pd, Au) that do dehydrogenation (to CO2 and H2 in WGS) and hydrogenation (to methanol). The intermediate of interest (HCOOH) is formed in situ from CO/H2O mixtures on metals and oxides that catalyze selective HCOOH dehydration, and thus its microscopic reverse. Subsequent HCOOH dehydrogenation would lead to the formation of H2 and CO2, completing a water-gas shift (WGS ) turnover without requiring interfacial contact among functions. A notable promotional effect has been recently detected in catalyst without requiring atomic contact, meaning that the two functions need to be “close” but not in atomic contact but involving a molecular carrier. The mechanistic details of such diffusion-mediated routes would unveil new opportunities for the specific channelling of such intermediates towards H2 and CO2, through precise positioning of a function that forms HCOOH from CO/H2O reactants and another function, present beyond atomic contact but within diffusion distances, that dehydrogenates gaseous HCOOH to H2 and CO2. Summarizing, this research would permit controlling the WGS process in order to increase H2 production worldwide. The proposed research will address the formation and scavenging of reactive and thermodynamically unstable intermediates without a C-C bond, which can be formed from C1 molecules (specifically natural gas or biogenic feedstocks), through the precise positioning for their formation and scavenging functions. The researcher U. De La Torre will be seconded to the LSAC group at UC Berkeley (USA) under the supervision of Prof. Enrique Iglesia, and will return to the University of the Basque Country (Spain) under the supervision of Prof. González-Velasco.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA · LeioaCoordinatorSpain
- THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA · OaklandUnited States
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union