Catalysis for Sustainable Energy - CASE

The wealth created in the World over the last century is based on easy access to inexpensive fossil fuels. This era is coming to an end. The resources are limited and the demand from everywhere in the world is growing rapidly. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that the emission of CO2 that follows the use of fossil fuels is threatening the climate of the Earth. Arguably this makes the development of sustainable energy solutions the most important scientific and technical challenge of our time. It is the aim of the present proposal to contribute to the solution of these problems in selected areas. We will address the underlying scientific questions and use the insight gained to point to solutions to some of the technical problems.

 
We propose to create a research environment to foster the discovery of new solid catalysts and processes for energy conversion for a spectrum of energy sources. The central idea is to develop a science-based rational design strategy for new catalysts. We wish to establish an understanding of the mechanism by which solid surfaces act as catalysts for energy conversion processes. In particular, we will identify the important factors of the catalyst material determining the catalytic activity and selectivity and we will synthesize and investigate new, interesting classes of materials. In addition, we wish to exploit this insight to devise rational catalyst design strategies for the discovery of new catalysts.

Our approach is to unite the unique set of competences at DTU in heterogeneous catalysis research into a project structure where we can exploit the synergy between them. Six major challenges are chosen as the focal points of the proposed initiative. They are chosen to cover aspects of a broad range of sustainable energy technologies. We propose to study:

  • Electrocatalysts to convert CO2 into liquid fuels such as methanol.
  • Electrocatalysts to convert N2 from the atmosphere into NH3 as energy carrier.
  • Photocatalysts for direct production of fuels from sunlight.
  • Optimization of materials for band gap design and light harvesting.
  • Catalysts for the direct conversion of biomass into liquid fuels that could replace gasoline and diesel.
  • Catalysts for the conversion of various degradation products from biomass into liquid fuels.
The project is a collaboration between several departments at DTU and a number of industrial partners.

Read more about the project at the CASE web-site

 

Page updated  by   26.04.2010


Mogens Bjerg Mogensen
Research Professor
Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry (ABF)
Dir tel+45 46775726