NanoCatCO2

5th Joint Call: NanoCatCO2

The proposal aims to design advanced nanostructured Ru-based catalysts for the CO₂ methanation (Sabatier) reaction. By combining nanotechnology methods with molecular modeling and advanced characterization, NanoCatCO2 seeks to develop high-performance formulations that enable efficient CO₂ conversion into methane, contributing to carbon recycling and renewable energy integration.
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Background

Anthropogenic CO₂ is the main driver of climate change. One promising strategy to mitigate emissions is capturing CO₂ at stationary sources and reacting it with green hydrogen to form methane via the Sabatier reaction. However, the process requires highly active catalysts at low temperatures, with precisely tuned properties at the nanoscale.

Ruthenium-based catalysts are among the most effective, but their performance depends strongly on nanoparticle size, doping, and the chemical interface with the support. NanoCatCO2 applies nanotechnology tools to develop tailor-made supports and Ru nanoparticles to maximize catalytic efficiency and stability.

The project

NanoCatCO2 pursues the following objectives:

  • Synthesis of Ru-based catalysts using colloidal methods, flame spray pyrolysis, aerosol processes, and surface organometallic chemistry.
  • Design of oxide and mixed oxide supports with tunable texture, structure, and surface chemistry.
  • Precise control of Ru nanoparticle size and composition through alloying and doping strategies.
  • Advanced characterization and modeling to identify key catalytic parameters.
  • Scale-up and validation of the most promising catalysts in a pilot-scale reactor.

The science

The project integrates catalyst synthesis, advanced materials characterization, and molecular modeling:

  • Chulalongkorn University (Thailand): Expertise in catalysis, methanation, and process scale-up.
  • ETH Zurich (Switzerland): Advanced surface organometallic chemistry, spectroscopy, and computational modeling.
  • UCLouvain (Belgium): Catalyst synthesis by sol-gel and aerosol processes, and CO₂ hydrogenation expertise.

Expected outcomes include new nanostructured catalyst formulations, mechanistic understanding of CO₂ methanation, and validated pilot-scale demonstrators for industrial application.

The team

The NanoCatCO2 partners are:

Prof. Piyasan Praserthdam (Coordinator), Chulalongkorn University (CU), Thailand

Prof. Christophe Copéret, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Prof. Damien Debecker, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Belgium

 

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Piyasan Praserthdam                   Email: piyasan.p@chula.ac.th 

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NANOTECHNOLOGIES