Nano-Engineered Co-Ionic Ceramic Reactors for CO2/H2O Electro-conversion to Light Olefins

Introduction

As a major contributor to the global CO2 emissions, the commodity chemical industry should be urgently coupled with renewable electricity to become independent from fossil fuel resources.

Project Overview

ECOLEFINS aims to establish a new, all-electric paradigm for the electro-conversion of CO2 and H2O to light olefins, the key intermediates for polymers and other daily life chemical products. The proposed concept reverses the heavy CO2 emissions associated with the petroleum-based light olefins production to massive CO2 capture and valorisation for carbon negative ethylene, propylene, and butylene.

Technology Concept

The concept introduces co-ionic ceramic membrane reactors and short-stacks/modules that merge the anodic steam electrolysis for hydrogen production with the cathodic CO2 electrolysis and hydrogenation to light olefins, over tailored and nano-engineered electrodes. This aims to develop a substantially more effective technology for the single-step, RES-powered artificial photosynthesis of CO2 to valuable chemicals.

Multi-disciplinary Approach

This ambition entails a multi-disciplinary task, requiring highly tuned synergies among cutting-edge research in the fields of:

1. Advanced materials science & engineering for co-ionic composites, perovskite ex-solutions, and organometallics
2. Electrochemistry and electrochemical process engineering
3. Catalysis science and engineering
4. Computer-aided materials design and atomic scale modelling
5. Digital real-scale process modelling and economic evaluation

Additional Considerations

Along with the above, a comprehensive sustainability assessment, applied social research for impact framing, and marketization planning are also essential components of the project.