Abstract
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) combines a series of technologies to address the problem of excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere, by capturing and converting CO2 into valuable products. One technology is photocatalysis, in which freely available solar photons are converted into an electrochemical driving force using semiconducting catalysts. The solar light harvesting efficiency can be improved through the modification of the catalytic surface using plasmonic nanostructures, but these comprise typically of expensive noble metals. On the other hand, plasma catalysis utilizes a reactive chemical cocktail driven by electrical energy in combination with a catalyst. This emerging technology excels in energy efficiency and conversion, currently undergoing upscale in a spin-off. I will combine the best of both technologies in this PhD project, by researching plasma-photocatalysis. The project emphasizes the use of inexpensive, earth-abundant elements for nanostructure fabrication, employing core-shell and Janus-type heterojunctions to enhance plasmonic efficiency. Novel porous supports with increased surface basicity will contribute to improving CO2 sorption and conversion selectivity. The ultimate goal is to surpass current standards, achieving over 50% conversion and 95% selectivity to CO. A working lab-scale plasma-photocatalysis reactor will be constructed, providing groundbreaking insights for the plasmon, plasma, and photocatalysis communities.
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