Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Limiting global warming to 2oC above pre-industrial levels would imply reducing greenhouse gas emission by 80% of the 1990 level by 2050 and a net-zero emission by 2100. Achieving this climate target means replacing traditional fossil fuels with renewable energy and accelerating carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilization technologies. Renewable energies, such as wind and solar, are very abundant and, taken together, could exceed today's global electricity demand > 10,000 times. However, the intrinsic intermittency of solar or wind resources limits their further deployment as replacements of fossil fuels. Electrochemical CO2 conversion (ECC) to fuels and chemicals provides compelling solution to both the CO2 emission and renewable energy storage problems. The ECC to fuels enables renewable energy storage in the form of chemical energy. The most critical component in ECC system is the catalyst where CO2 is converted to desired products. In this research program, we will develop next-generation catalysts based on metal clusters that are active, selective, and stable for converting CO2 into fuels and chemicals. To achieve this goal, it is essential to understand the correlation between the surface structural characteristics and the catalytic performance of the catalysts. We are requesting a chemi- and physisorption analyzer that will provide an in-depth understanding of the surface structure and chemistry of ECC catalysts. Specifically, we will use this gas sorption analyzer to determine the specific surface area and porous structure, the two important factors of an ECC catalyst. We will also employ this instrument to characterize the nature of the metal active sites for CO2 reduction using chemisorption and temperature-programmed techniques. By combining this tool with our electrochemical testing systems, we will be able to identify key surface physical and chemical features that govern the performance of the ECC catalyst. From the insights gained using the chemi- and physisorption analyzer, we will be able to develop more active, selective, and stable catalysts for CO2 conversion. Advancing ECC technology will position Canada as the leader in developing clean technologies that provide solutions to the global problem of climate change. The specialized gas sorption analyzer will also contribute to the training of next generation of HQP on a versatile state of the art research tool. We anticipate that over the next five years more than 50 HQP will directly benefit from using this tool.