Electro-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide for compounds C2+ utilizing ionic liquids

• Grant number: 21/06327-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Manuel Torresi
• Grantee: Primaggio Silva Mantovi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP)
• Associated research grant: 20/15230-5 - Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation - RCG2I, AP.PCPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/11931-0 - Understanding Water's Role on Ionic Liquids in CO2RR Systems Through in-situ Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

The utilization of fossil fuels increased the greenhouse effect around the planet because of the emission of GreenHouse Gases (GHG). Between them, the most studied is the carbon dioxide, due its uncontrolled growth at the atmosphere. To solve this problem, technologies are being develop along the last years to produce renewable fuels and clean energies, that do not depend on the burn of these compounds. In this path, there is the interest about transformation of CO2 through its reduction, forming the called C2+ molecules, like for example the ethanol and other products of interest for use. This can be done by optimizing the dissolution of this gas into stable electrolytes like Ionic Liquids (IL), that allows an electrochemical cell to operate with high potentials, promoting an oxirreduction of the reagents without affecting necessarily the electrolyte. A big problem when utilizing aqueous solvents is the hydrogen or oxygen evolution, limiting the options of available materials to use with water. There is so the objective to investigate the possibility of modifying these electrolytes, to increase the solubility of carbon dioxide. Coupling catalytic materials, it is possible to amplify the yield of C2+ compounds and enhance systems that emits this gas, capturing and transforming it, like for example the process of fermentation at adorns of ethanol production, avoiding that it be released to the atmosphere. This contributes for the diminution of problems like greenhouse effect, that is being aggravate and needs attention at researches and technologies to decrease its environmental impacts. (AU)