Focus area of Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (EIRES)

Chemistry for Sustainable Energy Systems

This focus area is home to scientific discussions and collaborative research opportunities in the field of chemistry of (photo/electro/plasma-) catalysis for high value chemicals.

INTRO

The scientific goal of this focus area is to unravel the detailed relationship between structure (e.g. morphology, grain boundaries, facets, bulk vs. surface effects, oxidation states and dopants) and performance of (photo/electro/plasma-) catalysts. This scientific goal aims to benefit from machine learning-driven approaches, to screen materials ab initio, as well as from advanced diagnostic tools to investigate reaction mechanisms occurring at gas-liquid-solid interfaces. The choice of focusing on high-value chemicals such as H₂, alcohols, carbonates, carbamates, oxygenates, syngas, olefins and NH₃, is strategic because these products are presently synthesized and needed at a substantial scale. Therefore, a switch to renewable powered production (supported by CO₂ capture technologies) of high-value chemicals is expected to lead to a major decrease in carbon emissions.
We expect that the collaboration between this focus area and the focus area Engineering for Sustainable Energy Systems will be key to a successful chain-of-knowledge towards technological solutions, such as the Dutch Electrolyzer.

Iconic project: Dutch Electrolyzer

A topic high on the research agenda is electrochemical conversion with a unique expertise of Eindhoven being scalable electrochemical reactors such as the spinning disc reactor. A flagship project called the ‘Dutch Electrolyzer’ is proposed, connecting basic research in the field of electrochemical reactor engineering, electrocatalysis, electricity conversion and process systems engineering at TU/e to the Brainport high tech industry. The aim is to learn step-by-step how to upscale an electrolyzer to a MW scale, linking to relevant roadmaps in the Netherlands. This approach will lead to many fundamental scientific and engineering challenges to be addressed between scientists, engineers and (start-up) companies. Such a flagship is to be embedded in the broader range of activities in this area in the Netherlands (MW test center, GW electrolyzer project, e-Refinery, TNO Faraday lab).

Principal Scientists

department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

Marta Costa Figueiredo

department of Applied Physics

Adriana Creatore

Departments involved/ contributing to EIRES

Applied Physics
Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
Mechanical Engineering

Applied Physics
The Applied Physics department carries out intensive research activities on novel material synthesis and control on material properties at the nanoscale. Specifically, the research groups 'Advanced nanomaterials and devices', 'Plasma and Materials Processing' and 'Molecular materials and nanosystems' exploit state-of-the-art processing routes, such as epitaxial growth of III-V semiconductor nanowires; atomic layer deposition of metal nano-particles and ultra-thin layers of metal oxides, nitrides, phosphates and 2D transition metal dichalcogenides; solution processing of nano-sized organic and inorganic molecular systems. The energy-related applications include: thermoelectric and solar cell nanowire devices; polymer, metal halide perovskite, crystalline silicon and tandem solar cells; photo-electrocatalysis; redox flow batteries. The nanofabrication steps are extensively supported by NanoLab@TU/e, a state-of-the-art cleanroom hosting also material characterization tools ranging from SEM to focus ion beam etching, XRD and XPS. Furthermore, the 'Physics of nanostructures' group hosts a dedicated UHV sputter and evaporation units for the deposition of multilayered ultrathin (< 1 nm) films. The Applied Physics department is also renowned for its studies on CO₂-fed plasma and vibrational kinetics studies carried out in the 'Plasma and materials processing' and 'Elementary processes and gas discharges' groups. All the experimental research efforts so far described are complemented by simulation and modelling activities carried out by the 'Elementary processes and gas discharges' and 'Materials Simulation and Modelling' groups, the spin-off Plasma Matters B.V. and the Center for Computational Energy Research (CCER), which aims to provide a computational foundation for a smooth and successful transition towards a sustainable global energy system.

Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
The energy related research at the Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Department is extensive and carried out by several research groups. Focus on novel materials (synthesis and characterization) for energy applications can be 'Stimuli-responsive functional materials & devices' (sustainable energy), 'Molecular materials and nanosystems' (photovoltaics). The focus on novel materials is complemented by the research activities of the 'Multi-scale modelling for multiphase chemical reactors' and 'Sustainable chemical processes' groups, which focuses on sustainable, efficient and safe technologies for separation, process intensification, electrochemical engineering, biomass conversion. The CEC department hosts material diagnostics (IR, Raman, XPS, XRD, NMR, TEM etc.), state-of-the-art nearly in situ electrochemistry (NAP-XPS) and electrochemistry equipment and reactors (including the spinning disc electrolyzers).

Mechanical Engineering
The Focus Area Chemistry for Sustainable Energy Systems closely collaborates with the Focus Area Engineering for Sustainable Energy Systems and the department of Mechanical Engineering (ME). Specifically, within ME the 'Power and Flow' group focuses on the synthesis of renewable dense energy carriers, such as liquid fuels, and generation of hydrogen through electrolysis. The ME department provides access to diverse and advanced research tools, which include flow measurement tools (PTV, PIV, CT, XRT), laser-based diagnostics and accurate and efficient validated numerical simulation models (DNS, LES).

Research and application areas

H₂O electrolysis
Photo-electrochemical conversion processes
CO₂ electrolysis
Hydrocarbon oxidation routes
Plasma-catalysis
CO₂ capture and storage technologies

H₂O electrolysis: although commercial H₂O electrolysers are available, only 4% of the total H₂ production derives from electrolysis, but not yet powered by renewables. The flagship project of the Dutch Electrolyser operating at MW scale provides a unique opportunity in this respect. The goal is to bridge the fundamental research on the design and synthesis of electrocatalysts based on emerging non-noble metals with the areas of electrochemical reactor and process system engineering.
Photo-electrochemical conversion processes: the extensive and multi-disciplinary research on novel, cost-effective thin-film photovoltaic technologies such as metal halide perovskites, provides a plethora of opportunities for synergic interdepartmental collaborations and the connection with the Dutch manufacturing industry.
CO₂ electrolysis: a variety of chemical products can be synthesized from CO₂. Challenges cover the field of material design & engineering to promote all steps (adsorption, coupling, hydrogenation) by decoupling gas and electrolyte transport. Furthermore, selective synthesis of targeted products is still a challenge. We foresee several strategies in this respect, always supported by the investigation of the reaction mechanisms occurring at the gas/liquid/solid interfaces. These strategies include molecular tuning to stabilize intermediates; synthesis of more sophisticated catalysts; combining electrochemical conversion with thermo- and bio-catalytic processes to further convert stable intermediate to the targeted products by using biocatalysts such as enzymes and bacteria.
Hydrocarbon oxidation routes: hydrocarbon oxidation as an alternative for anodic reactions in CO₂ or hydrogen electrolysers. When both anode and cathode are used for the synthesis of valuable chemicals – paired electrolysis - the electrons can be used twice, enabling the optimization of the energy. Hydrocarbon partial oxidation can be extremely interesting because several commodity chemicals can be synthesized (for example acrolein, acrylic acid and propylene oxide can be obtained from propene) without the side production of CO₂. These oxidation reactions are still very unknown at a molecular level and offer not only scientific challenges but also technological solutions for the use of renewable energies for the synthesis of chemicals.
Plasma-catalysis: there is an increasing number of research activities in plasma-catalysis as a promising alternative to thermal catalysis and synthesis of chemicals at low temperature. The complexity in plasma-catalysis demands an understanding of the gas-phase reactions as well as plasma-assisted surface reactions.
CO₂ capture and storage technologies (CCS): these technologies massively contribute to the goal of reduction of CO₂ levels in the atmosphere by complementing the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Whereas working with fluid sorbents leads to major costs for regenerating the fluid, solid sorbent approaches appear to be more cost-effective. In this respect, operating with highly porous thin membranes functionalized with CO₂- sorbents is considered a promising technology because easily up-scalable and prone to quick adsorption/desorption cycles, therefore facilitating its re-usage.

Related Research Groups

We acknowledge the TU/e research groups which are already involved with EIRES, either through the TU/e Sector Plan positions and PhD projects. We welcome all research groups interested in collaborating and contributing to the research focus of EIRES.

department of Applied Physics

Sustainable process engineering

Current and planned collaborations

Current projects and collaborations where Principal Investigators (PI) or Sector Plan positions are involved:

DTU, ENGIE, Volkswagen and TU/e spin-off DENS through the EU funded project C2FUEL (industrial-scale conversion of CO₂ captured from carbon-intensive industries to chemical fuels).
TUD, RUG, WUR, Shell, Tata Steel, Nuon, Avebe, and Yara with the E2CB – TTW program 'Electrons to Chemical Bonds'.
With several academic (UU, UvA, etc), industrial (AkzoNobel, Shell, BASF, etc) and governmental (ChemistryNL, NWO) partners through the Dutch national research centre (ARC-CBBC) that investigates chemical building blocks for novel sustainable energy and materials.
Nouryon, DIFFER, local industry (e.g. VDL Group, ASML, TBRM, ...), TNO Voltachem and Province of Noord-Brabant with the iconic project of the Dutch Electrolyzer.
TUD, UT, Avantium, TataSteel, Hydrogenics, Johnson Mattey, etc with an NWA project on power conversion for electrochemical storage RELEASE.
DIFFER-TU/e Impuls PhD research programs with a focus on novel electro-catalysts for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions.
DIFFER-Syngaschem B.V.-TU/e research program to unravel the fundamental principles behind high-value chemicals synthesis from green electricity, water and carbon dioxide, through an NWO (Chemical) Industrial Partnership Program (CH)IPP.
Carbyon-DIFFER-TU/e research program on direct air CO₂ capture with thin-film technologies through an Eindhoven Engine research project.
Elestor and Nedstack, through the personal grant of Antoni Forner Cuenca (Veni-NWO) that focuses on the design and synthesize of novel electrodes with architected microstructures.
Stoli Catalysts, with the PhD projects of Evgeny Rebrov in magnetically assisted electrocatalysis and fluidized bed plasma reactor design.

Researchers

We acknowledge the TU/e researchers which are already involved with EIRES, either through the TU/e Sector Plan positions and/or PhD projects. We welcome all researchers interested in collaborating and contributing to the research focus of EIRES.