Electro-oxidation of ethanol towards the production of energy and clean hydrogen

• Grant number: 24/12749-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Hamilton Brandão Varela de Albuquerque
• Grantee: Leandro Hostert
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/01177-5 - From fundamental to applied science: new frontiers in fuel cell technologies, AP.SPEC

Abstract

The use of renewable energy inherently connected to problem of the seasonality intrinsic to all renewable source, so that the energy produced needs to be stored. Out of the several possibilities, the interconversion between electrical and chemical energies has played a growing role in the quest for a sustainable future. Strategies involving power-to-x include the conversion of renewable energy into other forms of energy and products. In addition to high-value-added products, the production of clean hydrogen for subsequent use in devices such as fuel cells occupies a prominent place. It is proposed in this project a comprehensive study of the electro-oxidation of ethanol. The systems will be study by means of mechanistic and microkinetic analysis, combining numeric and bench experiments. Modeling and numerical simulations will be performed with a set of ordinary differential equations comprising all rate equations, mass and charge balances. Experimental results under conventional and oscillatory regime will be used to optimize the simulated data. In addition, experiments at higher temperature are also planned, according to the development of the project.