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Area Engineering

Synthesis and characterization of bimetallic catalysts for high-performance electrochemical CO2 conversion

keywords CARBON DIOXIDE REDUCTION, ELECTROCATALYSIS

Reference persons JUQIN ZENG

Thesis type MASTER THESIS

Description Electrochemical reduction of CO2 into valuable fuels and chemicals is of high interest from both economic and environmental points of view. This cutting-edge technology has good potential to build a sustainable carbon cycle and mitigate climate changes, simultaneously realizing mid/long-term storage of renewable electricity. This thesis proposal will contribute to an EU project (ECOMATES, 02.2023-01.2027), which is funded by the EU’s Horizon 2021 programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks.
This thesis proposal will focus on the synthesis and characterization of Cu-based bimetallic materials for the CO2 conversion, such as CuAl, CuZn and CuBi. Cu-based bimetallic materials have good potential to produce CO, HCOOH and C2H4 products efficiently and are promising to meet the required criteria (good selectivity, high activity and stability simultaneously), since the electronic and geometric structures, thermodynamically stability of the materials can be tuned by the secondary metal.
The bimetallic materials will be prepared with a one-pot microwave-assisted solvothermal route. This method has been well-established in our group, as evidenced by different publications and patents [US20230167563A1, DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121089]. New preparation routes such as co-precipitation and electrodeposition will also be explored [DOI:10.1002/ejic.202100581; DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.05.056].
The prepared catalysts will be characterized using a variety of techniques including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy (EDX), X ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
The performance of the catalysts toward the CO2 conversion will be evaluated in terms of activity and selectivity by performing linear sweeping voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic measurements with gas and liquid product analysis. The real-time quantification of gas-phase products will be performed with a micro gas chromatograph (µGC, Fusion® model, INFICON), and the detection and quantification of liquid-phase products will be realized with a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC, Thermo Scientific, Ultimate3000).


Deadline 29/01/2026      PROPONI LA TUA CANDIDATURA