| Project Detail |
High-performance catalysts for light-driven chemical reactions
Light olefins are the building blocks for many modern plastic products and industrial chemicals. They are mainly produced by hydrocarbon cracking and alkane dehydrogenation, which are energy intensive. Although research progress in solar-to-chemical energy conversion has been substantial, light-driven alkane dehydrogenation reactions have hitherto received poor attention. Funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Photo2Olef project will investigate the underlying mechanism of the light-driven processes to establish principles for designing more efficient catalysts. New catalysts based on trimetallic clusters confined in zirconium-based metal-organic framework materials will be synthesised.
Light olefins have been considered fundamental feedstocks in the chemical industry for decades. Current industrial processes for the synthesis of light olefins include naphtha cracking and light alkane dehydrogenation in thermochemical processes are under harsh conditions, and therefore energy-intensive. In the last decade, the solar-to-chemicals conversion process has attracted great attention, as it is deemed that the utilization of solar energy for the replacement of traditional fossil fuels is an ideal solution to the energy crisis and global warming. However, even though several reaction processes have been extensively studied and progress has been achieved, such as photocatalytic water splitting and photothermal/photocatalytic CO2 reduction, light-assisted alkane dehydrogenation reactions for the sustainable production of alkenes has not been explored yet. The objective of this research proposal is twofold: 1) developing new catalyst based on trimetallic clusters confined in Zr-based MOFs (TMC-MOF) for the photo-assisted light alkane dehydrogenation under mild conditions (<150oC), and 2) understanding the mechanism of the photo-assisted process, providing principles for design more efficient catalysts. The present project represents a significant step forward by showing the applicability of the solar-assisted alkane dehydrogenation process, presenting a significant advantage in terms of CO2-footprint. |
