EDUCAT
Project: Enzymatic dual atom catalysts
Collaborating Departments: Centre for Processable Electronics (Imperial); TUM Campus Straubing (TUM)
Single atom catalysts have emerged as a sustainable alternative to noble metals in electrochemical processes, such as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which hinders the performance of hydrogen fuel cells, or CO2 reduction reaction to high added value chemicals (CO2RR). However, their intrinsic catalytic activity is determined by the scaling relations in the binding energy of reaction intermediates, falling behind platinum group metal (PGM) electrocatalysts. Enzymes, however, display unique active sites composed of earth abundant metals in atomic proximity (dual-atom catalysts) that are capable to carry certain chemical reactions with unprecedented selectivity. Among them, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, in which a Ni and an Fe atom are in atomic proximity, reduces CO2 into CO with higher efficiencies that commercial Au or Ag electrolyzers. However, they are not stable in harsh chemical environments employed in electrochemical devices (pH, temperature, electrode fabrication, etc.). Thus, their application in sustainable devices that can drive the transition towards net zero remains in its infancy. Likewise, bio-inspired electrocatalysts, in which a molecule is designed to meet nm-distance/orientation of two metallic atom centres, has recently emerged. The today’s challenge is the quick loss of catalytic efficiency related to structural changes affecting the orientation/distance of the catalytic centre and chemical degradation
Team
Principal Investigator (Imperial)
Prof. Maria-Magdalena Titirici
Chair of Sustainable Materials | Imperial
Principal Investigator (TUM)
Prof. Dr. Ruben D. Costa
Chair of Biogenic Functional Materials
Doctoral Candidate (Imperial)
Jinjin Zhu
Doctoral Candidate (TUM)
Joseph Arbash