PROF. ADAM LEE
Thermal and photocatalytic routes to sustainable chemicals and fuels
Abstract:
The anthropogenic origin of climate change from combustible carbon, and desire to establish a global circular economy is driving the quest for new sustainable manufacturing processes. Catalysis has a rich history of facilitating energy efficient, selective molecular transformations, and will play a pivotal role in overcoming the scientific and engineering barriers to sustainable and economically viable energy vectors and chemicals. Advances in the rational design of nanoporous solid acid and base catalysts enable the fabrication of hierarchical porous architectures in which different active sites are spatially compartmentalised. Synergies between nanoporous solid acids and metal nanoparticles also facilitate active and selective upgrading of phenolic components of pyrolysis bio-oils to hydrocarbon fuels, and precious metal thrifting. Active site compartmentalization and flow chemistry facilitates chemical cascades to produce valuable chemical intermediates by controlling the reaction sequence and product selectivity.
Access to clean and renewable energy, and the responsible management of chemicals, are recognised by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and formulated in policy and legislation for almost every country on Earth. Green hydrogen, sourced from water split by solar energy is the leading clean energy vector where direct electrification is currently impractical, and a critical building block for sustainable chemical synthesis. Direct harnessing of solar energy for photocatalytic water splitting and biomass valorisation using Earth abundant elements, is discussed for efficient, durable and safe solar-driven hydrogen, and methane, production.