Annual Scientific Report 2017

Abstract

We develop novel heterogeneous catalysts and catalytic processes with the aim to minimize the energy usage and negative impacts of such processes on environment while achieving high product yield and selectivity. We take a multi-disciplinary approach based on material science, reaction engineering, and in situ / operando spectroscopy to gain solid comprehension of the active sites and the transformation pathways. Currently our major attentions are given to the conversion of CO₂ and CO₂-derived chemicals into fuels and useful chemicals and also to the production of hydrogen, the important molecule for CO₂ reduction. Also, powerful in situ / operando spectroscopic tools for studying solid materials and gas-solid and solid-liquid interfaces are being developed and applied to shed light on catalytic reaction mechanisms.

Topics addressed

• Catalytic CO₂ conversion
• Operando visualization – DMC synthesis from CO₂ and methanol
• Novel materials for electrocatalytic water splitting
• Operando IR study of gas sensing mechanisms

Articles

“CO₂ activation over catalytic surfaces”
ChemPhysChem (2017) 18, 3135-3141
A. Álvarez, M. Borges, J.J. Corral-Pérez, J. Giner-Olcina, L. Hu, D. Cornu, R. Huang, D. Stoian, A. Urakawa

“Temperature-Dependent NO₂ Sensing Mechanisms over Indium Oxide”
ACS Sensors (2017) 2, 1272-1277
S. Roso, D. Degler, E. Llobet, N. Barsan, A. Urakawa

“Challenges in the Greener Production of Formates/Formic Acid, Methanol, and DME by Heterogeneously Catalyzed CO₂ Hydrogenation Processes”
Chemical Reviews (2017) 117, 9804–9838
A. Álvarez, A. Bansode, A. Urakawa, A.V. Bavykina, T.A. Wezendonk, M. Makkee, J. Gascón, F. Kaptejin

LOAD MORE ARTICLES