Collaborative Research Center 1333

Molecular Heterogeneous Catalysis
in Confined Geometries

B07 – Electrocatalytic CO2-reduction on carbon

Prof. Dr. Christian Holm
Prof. Dr. Christian Holm
University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. Elias Klemm
Prof. Dr. Elias Klemm
University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. Stefan Naumann
Prof. Dr. Stefan Naumann
University of Freiburg

Electrocatalysis under confinement: CO2-reduction with molecular catalysts immobilized on ordered mesoporous carbons

– New project since July 2022 –

Ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) films with distinct pore sizes in the range of 3-18 nm and an adjusted wall polarity will be synthesized to design thin film electrodes (TFE) and gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for an optimized electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. The catalysts are selectively immobilized inside the mesopores via a silylation strategy. Confinement effects and the activity/selectivity of the electrocatalysts will be electrochemically characterized, and full cell measurements will be conducted to evaluate the stability and the scalability of the confinement effects. Relevant microscopic processes will be elucidated via simulations in order to set up an adequate continuum-based reaction-diffusion model for the full electrocatalytic cycle.