1. Topic ID: 1394
  2. Research topic: Synthesis and properties of copper layers doped with selected transition metals, deposited on gas diffusion electrodes for electrochemical reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons
  3. Supervisor: dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Mech
  4. Supervisor’s email address: kmech@agh.edu.pl
  5. Abstract: The proposed research topic is devoted to the preparation and testing of materials that may have properties desired in the context of CO2 conversion. The main research problem is the development and optimization of the methodology for obtaining copper alloys with selected transition metals in the context of their efficiency, stability, and selectivity in the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons in a flow reactor.
    The electrochemical reduction process is a two-step process. The first stage involves the reduction of CO2 to CO, while the next stage involves the reduction of the previously formed CO to hydrocarbons and other conversion products occurring in the liquid state. A very important parameter influencing the course of the conversion process (reaction mechanism, selectivity, and efficiency) is the contact time of the CO molecule with the catalytic material, which determines the probability of further reduction of the CO adsorbed on the electrode surface. Literature reports indicate the possibility of modifying the sorption properties towards CO by adding elements such as Ni, Ag, Zn, Pd, and Cd to copper. Depending on the properties of the elements present in the layers, they will be obtained by magnetron sputtering, thermal sputtering, or electrodeposition. Tests of electrocatalytic properties will be preceded by analyses of their thickness, structural properties, elemental composition, and morphology. Then, the materials will be tested for their electrochemical performance. The efficiency and selectivity of deposited material will be determined based on the results of chromatographic analyses. The work will include two parallel paths: a synthetic path and a path devoted to examining the properties of the obtained materials. This will allow for ongoing modification of synthesis conditions in a way that allows obtaining materials with optimal properties from the point of view of the conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons.
  6. Research facilities: The research topic is related to the Opus 25 project: Synthesis and properties of new, hybrid Cu-(Pd, Ag, Zn)-(B-g-C3N4) materials for photoelectrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons in flow reactors” (NCN/2023/49/B/ST8/01887). In addition to the basic doctoral scholarship, a doctoral scholarship of 4000 PLN per month is provided for the duration of the project (4 years).

    The Department of Photophysics of Semiconductor Electrochemistry localized in ACMiN in which the project will be realized possess two laboratories: Laboratory of Electrical and Electrochemical Research and Laboratory of Optical and Laser Spectroscopy. The laboratories are fully equipped with all instruments necessary for the synthesis and complex characterization of catalytic materials. The laboratories are equipped with, among others: potentiostats/galvanostats (Biologic, AutoLab), electrochemical quartz microbalance (SEIKO), the system for thin films deposition by an evaporation method, gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometer and TCD detector (Shimadzu GCMS-QP2020 (EI)), high-current programmable power supplies (KeySight), electrochemical station equipped with an optic bench, EIS and low current modules (Zahner), Kelvin probes, spectroscopic ellipsometer (240-1700 nm (Sentech)), UV-Vis spectrometer (Agilent), FTIR spectrometer (Bruker), UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer with integrating sphere (PerkinElmer), photoelectric spectrometer (Instytut Fotonowy), X-Ray fluorescence spectrometer (WD-XRF, Rigaku ZSX Primus IV), Xe lamp (150 W, Horiba), plasma etching system (Diener Plasma system, model FEMTO), set of LED matrices of various wavelength, flowmeters, thermostats, and electrochemical reactors for catalytic tests (Zahner, El-Cell). The remaining instruments for structural analysis (XRD, TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM, Bruker), X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are also localized in ACMiN’s laboratories.
  7. Funding source: Subsidy