Electrochemical oxidative conversion of methane

• Grant number: 23/10639-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Agreement: BG E&P Brasil (Shell Group)
• Principal Investigator: Andre Santarosa Ferlauto
• Grantee: Sabrina Gonçalves de Macedo Carvalho
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Company: Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN)
• Associated research grant: 17/11937-4 - A sustainable path to methane conversion by advanced electrochemical technologies, AP.PCPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/21552-6 - REDOX STABILITY STUDY OF OXIDES THIN FILMS FOR E-OCM BY CYCLIC VOLTAMMETRY, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The general goal of the project this post-doc fellow will contribute is to investigate the Electrochemical Oxidative Conversion of Methane (EOCM) to C2 hydrocarbons using solid oxide reactors (SSR), similar to solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). In principle these SSR can produce electricity while carrying out the chemical reactions. Such solid state reactors can deliver controlled amounts of active oxygen species, finely tuned by the electrochemical potential of the cell to avoid the total oxidation of methane, and have the important advantage of avoiding further separation steps. Such features along with the modular design, and operation in a wide range of temperatures are the main drivers towards commercialization. The research is based on the available infrastructure and past experience on SOFC of the team. The main innovative idea of this project is the use shape-controlled doped ceria nanoparticles capable of retaining porosity at high temperatures. The catalytic properties and microstructural stability at high temperatures of the catalyst materials will be investigated and the most promising materials will be incorporated and tested in EOCMs. (AU)