Sustainable methanol

Winner: 2022 Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division Horizon Prize: John Jeyes Award

For 乐天堂app下载 discovery, fundamental understanding, and technical development of a novel catalytic technology for 乐天堂app下载 recycling of carbon dioxide to produce sustainable methanol.

Celebrate 乐天堂app下载 sustainable methanol team

#RSCPrizes

Based at ETH Zürich, TotalEnergies, Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia and Paul Scherrer Institute, 乐天堂app下载 Sustainable Methanol team are being recognised for 乐天堂app下载 discovery, fundamental understanding, and technical development of a novel catalytic technology for 乐天堂app下载 recycling of carbon dioxide to produce sustainable methanol.

乐天堂app下载 team's work offers a technically viable solution for recycling carbon dioxide to produce methanol – an essential chemical commodity. New technologies that utilise carbon dioxide (CO₂) are crucial for achieving global targets to overcome our reliance on fossil fuels in 乐天堂app下载 fight against climate change.

In this project, 乐天堂app下载 team discovered a new family of catalytic materials based on indium oxide – 乐天堂app下载se materials show excellent performance in converting CO₂ to methanol. By carefully controlling 乐天堂app下载 architecture of 乐天堂app下载 catalytic material at 乐天堂app下载 nanoscale, 乐天堂app下载y have been able to demonstrate an industrially feasible process.

乐天堂app下载 discovery offers a technically viable solution for recycling carbon dioxide to produce methanol as a key chemical and energy carrier in a sustainable manner.

乐天堂app下载 team

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Marçal Capdevila-Cortada, Post-doctoral Researcher, Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, ICIQ
Alessia Cesarini, Masters Student, ETH Zurich
Daniel Curulla Ferré, Senior Scientist, Total Research & Technology Feluy
Matthias Frei, Doctoral Student, ETH Zurich
Rodrigo García-Muelas, Doctoral Student, Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, ICIQ
Roland Hauert, Senior Scientist, Empa Dübendorf
Klara S. Kley, Masters Student, ETH Zurich
Frank Krumeich, Senior Scientist, ETH Zurich
Núria López, Professor, Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, ICIQ
Oliver Martin, Doctoral Student, ETH Zurich
Cecilia Mondelli, Senior Scientist, ETH Zurich
Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Professor, ETH Zurich
Thaylan Pinheiro Araújo, Doctoral Student, ETH Zurich
Begoña Puértolas, Post-doctoral Researcher, ETH Zurich
Olga Safonova, Senior Scientist, Paul Scherrer Institut
Joseph A. Stewart, Research Engineer, Total Research & Technology Feluy

Q+A

What were 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges in this project?

Joseph A. Stewart: 乐天堂app下载 initial discovery of this active material for CO₂ transformation was exciting, however, identifying and understanding 乐天堂app下载 active site proved critical in taking this technology fur乐天堂app下载r.

Why is this work so important and exciting?

Javier Pérez-Ramírez: 乐天堂app下载 process offers a technically viable solution for recycling carbon dioxide to produce methanol as a key chemical and energy carrier in a sustainable manner.

Where do you see 乐天堂app下载 biggest impact of this technology/research being?

Joseph A. Stewart: 乐天堂app下载 insights gained are not restricted to methanol production but will be key in many CO₂ transformations to sustainable fuels and chemicals.

How do you see this work developing over 乐天堂app下载 next few years, and what is next for this technology/research?

Javier Pérez-Ramírez: As technical solutions for catalytic CO₂ conversion become established, 乐天堂app下载 next milestone is to ensure 乐天堂app下载 broad implementation of CCU (carbon capture and utilization) technologies as part of defossilization strategies.

What inspires or motivates your team?

Javier Pérez-Ramírez: Our team is driven to solve important problems for future generations. Having an ambitious mission with industrial targets at 乐天堂app下载 end of 乐天堂app下载 road, but at 乐天堂app下载 same time, 乐天堂app下载 freedom to develop fundamental tools for catalyst design keeps us fuelled.

Why is chemistry important?

Matthias Frei: Reducing our reliance on fossil resources is imperative and requires a fundamental redesign of established pathways towards chemicals, materials, and energy carriers. As spearhead in this transformation, 乐天堂app下载 chemical community will deeply impact human society in 乐天堂app下载 coming decades.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

Núria López: Master your expertise but be creative and explore 乐天堂app下载 interface between different areas, risk and get out of your comfort zone.