Materials Chemistry and Catalysis

Reducible oxide promotors in CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol

---

To transition toward a more renewable future, chemical processes need to move away from fossil fuels as a feedstock. The use of CO₂ as an alternative feedstock can both provide a different carbon source for the chemical industry, and reduce CO₂ emissions [1]. Methanol is an important starting material for the chemical industry and could be produced by the hydrogenation of CO₂ [2]. Reducible oxides have been shown to play interesting roles as promotors in this reaction, boosting catalytic activity and steering selectivity [3]. However, very little is yet understood about this influence and how this can be explained by the properties of the oxide.

Therefore, this project will be aimed to elucidate the effects that reducible oxides have in the catalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ to methanol. The oxides influence in different aspects of the catalytic process, from synthesis to catalysis, will be investigated. Key characterization techniques will aim to determine the promotor species during actual high pressure reaction conditions, like operando XAS. Other characterization techniques of interest include TPO/R, EM, and XRD.

Please send me or Peter Ngene an email if you’re interested in doing a project with me.

References

---

[1] Dibenedetto, Angela, et al. “Use of carbon dioxide as feedstock for chemicals and fuels: homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.” Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 89.3 (2014): 334-353.

[2] Bowker, Michael. “Methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation.” ChemCatChem 11.17 (2019): 4238-4246.

[3] Dalebout, Remco, et al. “Manganese oxide as a promoter for copper catalysts in CO2 and CO hydrogenation.” ChemCatChem 14.19 (2022): e202200451.

C.V.

---

2024 – Present

PhD candidate in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, under supervision of prof. dr. Petra de Jongh.

2022-2024

MSc Nanomaterials Science at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

MSc thesis completed in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group at Utrecht University, subjected “Alkali(ne earth) metal promotion in Ni-catalyzed thermal decomposition of methane” and supervised by Dr. Suzan Schoemaker and Prof. Dr. Petra de Jongh.

Research internship at the MAS Eindhoven group of TNO, subjected “CO2 electroreduction to ethylene: From catalyst to cell configuration” and supervised by Dr. Francesc Sastre Calabuig and Dr. Peter Ngene.

2017-2021

BSc Chemistry at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

BSc thesis completed in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group at Utrecht University, subjected “Gold particle size effects in ethylene epoxidation” and supervised by Dr. Johan de Boed and Prof. Dr. Petra de Jongh.