Summer Internship Programme 2017
Research Project
PR6_Novel Nanostructured Materials Active as
Heterogeneous Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to
Formic Acid in a Power-to-Liquid Process
Power-to-Liquid (PtL) technology is a solution for renewable
energy storage. For instance, surplus electrical energy can be
used to store H2 through catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to
formic acid.
Project Short
description
Currently, CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid is realized over a
Ru-based homogeneous catalyst. In this beyond-the-state-ofthe-art project a heterogeneous catalyst will be developed,
facilitating the separation from the reaction medium.
Therefore, emerging nanoporous crystalline covalent organic
frameworks (COFs) will be explored as a supporting material
of active metal nanocluster catalysts.
The successful candidate will: (i) perform the synthesis and
characterization of COF catalysts; (ii) evaluate catalytic
activity using liquid-phase batch reactor.
This project provides a great opportunity to gain experience
in the material synthesis and characterization, as well as in
the correlation of the catalytic activity data with the physicochemical properties of the synthesized materials. The
obtained results will lead to publication in high impact journal
and congress contribution.
Expected Start/End
date
May 15th 2017 / September 15th 2017
The candidate should:
Candidature
Requirements
Supervisor
Position
Contact email for
enquiries
Be a student in the 3rd to 5th year of their undergraduate
studies in Chemistry, Materials science, Industrial Chemistry
or Chemical Engineering. Experience in experimental
chemistry is valued;
Have strong oral and written communication skills in English;
Be highly motivated and able to work in a very
multidisciplinary project and environment.
Dr. Carlo Resini and Dr. Laura Salonen
Research Fellow / Staff Researcher of the Nanochemistry
Group (Department of Micro and Nanofabrication).
[email protected] / [email protected]