Development of constrution of a lab-pilotplant to activate and reduce CO2

Minimizing of the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is one of the most important challenges in our time. Therefore, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to value added chemicals is a sustainable strategy to solve the growing energy crisis, which at the same time has the potential to mitigate environmental pollution. In the past years, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 has been studied by several research groups to produce valuable products, for example carbon monoxide, formic acid, methane, ethanol or methanol. Particularly the transformation of CO2 in high-density alcohols, especially methanol and ethanol, is a cherished goal for chemists and environmental engineers alike. The project aims at increasing the knowledge on elementary properties and processes that determine the selective efficiency of transition-metal corroles on surfaces of technological relevance (graphite). The main achievements and findings of the project will be: • Synthesis of functionalized catalysts suitable for a controlled bonding to specific surface templates (graphite material). • Unprecedented complementary characterization of a prototypical corrole interface addressing the interfacial chemistry. • Determination of the electronic properties of the adsorbed catalyst molecules • Determination of the CO2 reduction of the catalyst/substrate conjugates. • Identification of general design criteria for controlling the efficiency of the reduction catalysts (‘selection of the fittest’). • Scale-up of CO2 conversion process using gas-diffusion electrodes as working electrodes. • Scale-up and laboratory plant manufacturing