Hybrid metal oxide cluster@MOF catalysts: design, synthesis by atomic layer deposition, and catalytic methane oxidation

Abstract

In 20 years we are expected to reach the Natural Gas Golden Age, when methane willplay a leading role as primary industrial feedstock. Hence, this proposal aims to developfundamental and applied knowledge for the catalytic conversion of CH4 by oxidative routes,as well as the utilization of CO2, a greenhouse gas present in natural gas (and also by productof methane reforming). It is proposed as coordinated and integrated between groups acting invarious research lines (RL): the group of chemical catalysis (RL-1) and photocatalysis (RL-2) aiming to address the significant challenges in the CH4 partial oxidation to methanol. RL-1involves design, preparation and characterization of Cu and Fe-based structured catalysts, construction of reactors, and catalytic tests. In RL-1, the promising catalysts will be describedwith DFT calculations for modeling of catalysts active sites and interaction of reactants. TheRL-2 will develop photocatalysts based on TiO2, g-C3N4, ZnO, BiVO4, and BiWO3. Thecatalytic activity will be studies seeking the development of experimental setups to analyzethe controlling ability of these oxidation reactions in laboratory and pilot scales. Alternatively, to methanol, in RL-3, methane will be used as a feedstock to the production of carbon-basedmaterials, which will be modified aiming to achieve adequate properties for applications. As itregards to the CO2 utilization, RL-4 will be studying the methane bi-reforming of a mixtureof CH4 and CO2 into syngas (CO + H2). The RL-5 will focus on the hydrogenation of CO2into methanol. Techno-economic analysis and environmental assessment will also be appliedin the studies of RL-1, RL-4 and RL-5. (AU)