Work

Application of Copper-Based Catalysts and Strontium Ferrite as Bed Materials for Plasma-Driven CO2 Splitting

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Activation of the stable CO 2 molecule presents the key barrier to the synthesis of value-added chemicals via heterogeneous catalysis. Catalyst-based processes have been widely studied for CO 2 valorization, although their coupling with nonthermal plasma (NTP) has received comparatively little attention. The work presented herein utilizes NTP from mixtures of CO 2 with N 2 or Ar over Al 2 O, SrFeO 3−δ, and Cu-based catalysts to investigate: (1) the cleavage of CO 2 to CO; (2) the plasma discharge characteristics and electrical power requirement. NTP was generated in a packed bed reactor through dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), with all bed materials increasing the number of microdischarges compared to DBD operated in the empty reactor. Gas analysis confirmed the evolution of CO and O 2 in a ∼2:1 ratio, as expected for CO 2 → CO + 1/2 O 2, with diminishing power requirements for gas mixtures 100 vol % CO 2 > 50 vol % CO 2 /N 2 > 50 vol % CO 2 /Ar. With plasma initiated at 20 °C, appreciable warming of the reactor was measured owing to dissipated power, reaching a steady temperature between 150 and 350 °C depending upon the bed material. The highest conversion of CO 2 to CO was 2.5–3% over the Cu–CeO 2 and SrFeO 3−δ . The two materials withhold vacancies in the crystal structure, potentially interacting with the evolved oxygen to prevent recombination with CO. In contrast, both the Cu–ZnO and Cu–ZrO 2 catalyzed the recombination of CO and oxygen, giving an overall CO 2 conversion of just 1% or less. Relatively high CO 2 splitting conversion of 2 to 2.5% was found over Al 2 O 3 and at the lowest power input for all materials examined─a result of salience given the application of Al 2 O 3 as a support for copper catalysts. This work demonstrates that catalysts modulate plasma to support gas-phase CO 2 dissociation and participate in catalytic reactions with species generated in NTP.

Source: Energy & Fuels

DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c03665

Authors: George J. Fulham, Joseph C. Gebers, Ewa J. Marek

Institution: University of Cambridge

Language: English

Topic: Plasma Applications and Diagnostics

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500