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H2020Individual fellowship2021–2023

PHOTOBIOCATH-CO2 · Photocathode engineering for efficient photobioelectrochemical CO2 reduction to formate

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31
EU contribution
€160,932
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Photocathode engineering for efficient photobioelectrochemical CO2 reduction to formate

There is great concern in that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are probably the cause of global warming. Due to gradual increase in CO2 concentration, the recycling or transformation of CO2 into value-added fuels is considered as an interesting option to tackle the global warming and energy requirement without hindering development and urbanization. Among the several ways for CO2 conversion photoelectrochemistry (PEC) is recognized as the ideal method to convert CO2 into added value compounds. Therefore, the implementation of the project has allowed an advance on this field of technology,also called artificial photosynthesis due to its mimicking of nature’s energy cycle. The overall objectives of the project have been: -1. The design and synthesis of efficient and stable binary (two-component) and ternary (three-component) nanocomposite oxides for formate generation via CO2 reduction. - 2. The design and fabrication of efficient and stable hybrid inorganic/biological photocathodes for photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (PEC-CO2RR). - 3. The design and construction of an efficient and stable photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction cathode. The main conclusion of the project was that inorganic composites based on p-type metallic oxide semiconductors of Fe, Cu and Bi and be combined to with the enzyme formate dehydrogenase anchored on a highly conductive carbon-based nanomaterial (COOH-MWCNT) film as photocathodes of formate reduction. The utilized carbon nanomaterial support provided fast charge transfer from the semiconductor to the biocatalyst, without altering the FDH catalytic center. Thus, the CNT/FDH interface was probably responsible for increasing charge accumulation and suppressing recombination phenomena.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

In this proposal, organic, carbon nanotubes fibres (CNTf) or reduced graphene oxide (RGO),and inorganic, p-type semiconductors or their nanocomposites, nanohybrids are systematically combined in multistep synthetic methods to fabricate novel photocathodes, as well as some counterparts of them (for the purpose of comparison), for studying their efficiency in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) for CO2 reduction to formate. One of the key elements of this hybrid photoelectrode is the presence of the enzyme formate dehydrogenase (FDH) anchored on a highly conductive carbon-based nanomaterial (CNTf or RGO) film at the top of the light absorber that catalyzes the reaction to reduce CO2 to formate. The carbon-based support will provide fast charge transfer from the semiconductor to the biocatalyst, without altering the FDH catalytic center. In other words, for ensuring electron transport between the two key photocathode components), in this project, a carbon nanotube fibre (CNF) or RGO interlayer film will be exploited between the photoactive material and FDH co-catalyst for the first time as a highly conductive platform, which is a prerequisite for technical applications to prevent short-circuiting and leaching of the biocatalyst or mediator species. After evaluation of their PEC activity, the relationship between their structure, synthesis method, and morphology on the one hand and their PEC activity on the another hand will be correlated and discussed. The aim will be selecting the best option as photocathode for designing a photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (PEC-CO2RR) cell with high efficiency and stability that can alleviate the pollution caused from fossil fuels use. In this way, the design of a photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (PEC-CO2RR) cell can be accomplished for producing formate, a valuable chemical product due to its wide range of applications.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridCoordinatorSpain

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union