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At least 487 records · Page 27

Durable and Versatile Immobilized Carbonic Anhydrase on Textile Structured Packing for CO 2 Capture

High-performance carbon dioxide (CO 2 )-capture technologies with low environmental impact are necessary to combat the current climate change crisis. Durable and versatile “drop-in-ready” textile structured packings with covalently immobilized carbonic anhydrase (CA) were created as efficient, easy to handle catalysts for CO 2 absorption in benign solvents. The hydrophilic textile structure itself contributed high surface area and superior liquid transport properties to promote gas-liquid reactions that were further enhanced by the presence of CA, leading to excellent CO 2 absorption efficiencies in lab-scale tests. Mechanistic investigations revealed that CO 2 capture efficiency depended primarily on immobilized enzymes at or near the surface, whereas polymer entrapped enzymes were more protected from external stressors than those exposed at the surface, providing strategies to optimize performance and durability. Textile packing with covalently attached enzyme aggregates retained 100% of the initial 66.7% CO 2 capture efficiency over 71-day longevity testing and retained 85% of the initial capture efficiency after 1-year of ambient dry storage. Subsequent stable performance in a 500 h continuous liquid flow scrubber test emphasized the material robustness. Biocatalytic textile packings performed well with different desirable solvents and across wide CO 2 concentration ranges that are critical for CO 2 capture from coal and natural gas-fired power plants, from natural gas and biogas for fuel upgrading, and directly from air.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Permeation of CO 2 and N 2 through glassy poly(dimethyl phenylene) oxide under steady- and presteady-state conditions

Glassy polymers are often used for gas separations because of their high selectivity. Although the dual-mode permeation model correctly fits their sorption and permeation isotherms, its physical interpretation is disputed, and it does not describe permeation far from steady state, a condition expected when separations involve intermittent renewable energy sources. To develop a more comprehensive permeation model, we combine experiment, molecular dynamics, and multiscale reaction–diffusion modeling to characterize the time-dependent permeation of N 2 and CO 2 through a glassy poly(dimethyl phenylene oxide) membrane, a model system. Simulations of experimental time-dependent permeation data for both gases in the presteady-state and steady-state regimes show that both single- and dual-mode reaction–diffusion models reproduce the experimental observations, and that sorbed gas concentrations lag the external pressure rise. The results point to environment-sensitive diffusion coefficients as a vital characteristic of transport in glassy polymers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Design of Experiments for Dynamic Test Runs in Solvent-Based CO 2 Capture Pilot Plants

Test runs in the pilot plants consume significant resources, and therefore, the learning from test runs should be maximized. Test runs conducted in the pilot plants are often steady state. It takes several hours for reaching steady-state in the pilot plants, and thus, the duration of the test runs needs to be long even for collecting few steady-state data points. On the other hand, a large number of measurements can be collected through dynamic test runs in a short span of time. This paper presents a systematic design of dynamic experiments (DoDEs) for identifiability of model parameters, which is achieved by persistently exciting the inputs signals. A pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) is designed as the input signal for DoDE due to its efficiency in obtaining sufficient spectral content. However, due to the long sequence size of the PRBS signal, a Schroeder-phase input signal, which is a multisine signal, is also designed. Tests for both types of signals are run in the Pilot Solvent Test Unit (PSTU) at the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Alabama. The transient data are used to solve dynamic data reconciliation and parameter estimation problem. The estimated parameters are found to be not only superior to those estimated from using data collected from hundreds of steady-state test runs in a nonreactive (air–water) system, but the parameters could be estimated by using the dynamic data collected for about 24 h from the pilot plant for the MEA-H 2 O–CO 2 system.

CO2 capture↗

Direct numerical simulation of supercritical oxy-methane mixing layers with CO 2 substituted counterparts

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of temporally developing, three dimensional, CH 4 /CO 2 , CH 4 /O 2 and CO 2 /O 2 mixing layers, are conducted at a supercritical pressure of 300 atm. To effectively model the supercritical regime, the employed formulation includes the compressible form of the governing equations, the cubic Peng-Robinson equation of state and a generalized formulation for heat and mass flux vectors derived from non-equilibrium thermodynamics and fluctuation theory. A linear inviscid stability analysis is also performed for each case, to determine its most unstable wavelength. Flow visualizations reveal the presence of high density gradient magnitude regions for all three mixing layers, with conditional averages indicating increased presence of heavier fluid species within these regions. No significant departures are observed from perfect gas behavior, with compressibility factors very close to unity for all three mixing cases. Applicability of presumed probability density function methods (PDF) is examined for the three supercritical mixing layers. An a priori analysis is also conducted to investigate various simplifying assumptions employed in modeling various subgrid scale (SGS) flux models. Two additional terms are identified in the large eddy simulations (LES) equations, the gradient of SGS contribution of pressure in the momentum equation and the gradient of SGS contribution of heat flux in energy equation, whose magnitudes are similar and comparable with their respective resolved terms. The performance of the scale similarity model to represent these additional terms is investigated. Lastly, the performance of Smagorinsky, gradient and scale similarity models are also investigated.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Molecular engineering of dispersed nickel phthalocyanines on carbon nanotubes for selective CO 2 reduction

Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 is a promising route for sustainable production of fuels. A grand challenge is developing low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts that can enable rapid conversion with high product selectivity. Here we design a series of nickel phthalocyanine molecules supported on carbon nanotubes as molecularly dispersed electrocatalysts (MDEs), achieving CO 2 reduction performances that are superior to aggregated molecular catalysts in terms of stability, activity and selectivity. The optimized MDE with methoxy group functionalization solves the stability issue of the original nickel phthalocyanine catalyst and catalyses the conversion of CO 2 to CO with >99.5% selectivity at high current densities of up to -300 mA cm -2 in a gas diffusion electrode device with stable operation at -150 mA cm -2 for 40 h. The well-defined active sites of MDEs also facilitate the in-depth mechanistic understandings from in situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations on structural factors that affect electrocatalytic performance.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Sub-Nanometer Nanoclusters of Copper Atop Single-Atom Copper Moieties toward Electrochemical CO 2 Hydrogenation to Methane

The electrochemical CO 2 reduction (eCO 2 R) offers a compelling route for converting CO 2 into value-added fuels and chemicals. Among CO 2 -derived products, methane (CH 4 ) occupies a distinct position, serving both as a key intermediate for emerging cascade electro-oxidation to oxygenates and as a strategically important extraterrestrial fuel that can be generated in situ from off-planet CO 2 resources. Although Cu-based catalysts capable of selectively producing CH 4 have been reported, they seldom sustain high selectivity at practically relevant current densities. Here, we created a single-step co-pyrolysis strategy toward generating and anchoring Cu sub-nanometer clusters (Cu SNC ) atop Cu-N x single-atom (SA) motifs embedded within N-doped carbon (NC), with controllable nanostructures through tuning of the synthesis parameters. Complementary spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations help reveal a structure−activity correlation that could guide the catalyst design. The Cu SNC @NC sample synthesized at 550 °C pyrolysis temperature (best described and modeled as Cu 3 -CuN 4 domains) represents the most effective combination of cluster size, metal-nitrogen coordination, and adsorption energetics needed to selectively promote CH 4 generation versus other eCO 2 R products. Incorporating pulsed electrolysis and hydrophobicity-modulated transport tuning at the triple-phase boundary (TPB) further enhanced CH 4 production achieving a partial CH 4 current density of ∼321 mA cm −2 , 53% Faradaic efficiency (FECH 4 ), and less than 4% combined FE for other eCO 2 R products, simplifying downstream CH 4 purification or upgrading. This work establishes generalizable principles for controlling Cu cluster atomicity and metal−nitrogen coordination, both of which are recognized determinants of CH 4 -efficient eCO 2 R.

CH4 production↗

Comparative Technoeconomic Analysis of Pathways for Electrochemical Reduction of CO 2 with Methanol to Produce Methyl Formate

Electrochemical CO 2 reduction has promise as a technology that could help society reach carbon neutrality while producing valuable fuels and chemicals. Herein, the electrochemical synthesis of methyl formate, a product not observed in aqueous CO 2 electrolysis, has been analyzed by a rigorous technoeconomic model to evaluate its commercial viability. Methyl formate synthesis has been demonstrated with high faradaic efficiency through the electroreduction of CO 2 in methanol. Four competing approaches were analyzed: (1) Electroreduction of captured CO 2 in a dual CH 3 OH/H 2 O electrolyzer, (2) Direct electroreduction of flue gas CO 2 in a dual CH 3 OH/H 2 O electrolyzer, (3) Electroreduction of captured CO 2 in a CH 3 OH/CH 3 OH electrolyzer, and (4) Electroreduction of captured CO 2 in a H 2 O/H 2 O electrolyzer with a downstream CH 3 OH reactor. Sensitivity analyses, cost contour plots, and comparison plots were generated. The dual methanol/water electrolysis approach was the most cost-competitive, with a levelized cost of methyl formate below the present market price. Here, the all-methanol electrolysis route was more expensive due to increased methanol consumption and greater distillation costs. Methyl formate production through aqueous CO 2 electrolysis to formic acid with a secondary esterification reaction was by far the most expensive approach, primarily due to the energy-intensive nature of distilling formic acid from water.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Exploitation of Pore Structure for Increased CO 2 Selectivity in Type 3 Porous Liquids

CO 2 capture requires materials with high adsorption selectivity and an industrial ease of implementation. To address these needs, a new class of porous materials was recently developed that combines the fluidity of solvents with the porosity of solids. Type 3 porous liquids (PLs) composed of solvents and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) offer a promising alternative to current liquid carbon capture methods due to the inherent tunability of the nanoporous MOFs. However, the effects of MOF structural features and solvent properties on CO 2 –MOF interactions within PLs are not well understood. Herein experimental and computational data of CO 2 gas adsorption isotherms were used to elucidate both solvent and pore structure influences on ZIF-based PLs. The roles of the pore structure including solvent size exclusion, structural environment, and MOF porosity on PL CO 2 uptake were examined. A comparison of the pore structure and pore aperture was performed using ZIF-8, ZIF-L, and amorphous-ZIF-8. Adsorption experiments here have verified our previously proposed solvent size design principle for ZIF-based PLs (1.8× ZIF pore aperture). Furthermore, the CO 2 adsorption isotherms of the ZIF-based PLs indicated that judicious selection of the pore environment allows for an increase in CO 2 selectivity greater than expected from the individual PL components or their combination. This nonlinear increase in the CO 2 selectivity is an emergent behavior resulting from the complex mixture of components specific to the ZIF-L + 2'-hydroxyacetophenone-based PL.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Electrolyte–Electrocatalyst Interfacial Effects of Polymeric Materials for Tandem CO 2 Capture and Conversion Elucidated Using In Situ Electrochemical AFM

Integrating CO 2 capture and electrochemical conversion has been proposed as a strategy to reduce the net energy required for CO 2 regeneration in traditional CO 2 capture and conversion schemes and can be coupled with carbon-free renewable electricity. Polyethylenimine (PEI)-based materials have been previously studied as CO 2 capture materials and can be integrated in these reactive capture processes. PEI-based electrolytes have been found to significantly increase the CO 2 loading, and impact selectivity and rate of product formation when compared to the conventional aqueous electrolytes. However, the influence of these materials at the catalyst–electrode interface is currently not well understood. In this study, PEI-based electrolytes were prepared and their impact on the morphology of a silver electrode performing electrochemical CO 2 reduction (CO 2 R) was studied using in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM). The presence of PEI on the electrode surface could be distinguished based on nanomechanical properties (DMT modulus), and changes were observed as negative polarization was applied, revealing a reorganization of the PEI chains due to electrostatic interactions. These changes were impacted by the electrolyte composition, including the addition of supporting electrolyte KHCO 3 salt, as well as CO 2 captured by the PEI-based electrolyte, which minimized the change in surface mechanical properties and degree of PEI alignment on the electrode surface. The changes in surface mechanical properties were also dependent on the PEI polymer length, with higher molecular weight PEI showing different reconfiguration than the shorter polymer brushes. The study highlights that the choice of polymer material, the electrolyte composition, and CO 2 captured impact the nearelectrode environment, which has implications for CO 2 R, and presents EC-AFM as a new tool that can be used to probe the dynamic behavior of these interfaces during electrocatalysis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Metal–Ligand Cooperativity via Exchange Coupling Promotes Iron- Catalyzed Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction at Low Overpotentials

Biological and heterogeneous catalysts for the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) often exhibit a high degree of electronic delocalization that serves to minimize overpotential and maximize selectivity over the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we report a molecular iron(II) system that captures this design concept in a homogeneous setting through the use of a redox non-innocent terpyridine-based pentapyridine ligand (tpyPY2Me). As a result of strong metal-ligand exchange coupling between the Fe(II) center and ligand, [Fe(tpyPY2Me)] 2+ exhibits redox behavior at potentials 640 mV more positive than the isostructural [Zn(tpyPY2Me)] 2+ analog containing the redox-inactive Zn(II) ion. This shift in redox potential is attributed to the requirement for both an open-shell metal ion and a redox non-innocent ligand. The metal-ligand cooperativity in [Fe(tpyPY2Me)] 2+ drives the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO at low overpotentials with high selectivity for CO 2 RR (>90%) and turnover frequencies of 100,000 s -1 with no degradation over 20 h. The decrease in the thermodynamic barrier engendered by this coupling also enables homogeneous CO 2 reduction catalysis in water without compromising selectivity or rates. Synthesis of the two-electron reduction product, [Fe(tpyPY2Me)] o , and characterization by X-ray crystallography, Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), variable temperature NMR, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, support assignment of an open-shell singlet electronic structure that maintains a formal Fe(II) oxidation state with a doubly reduced ligand system. Furthermore, this work provides a starting point for the design of systems that exploit metal-ligand cooperativity for electrocatalysis where the electrochemical potential of redox non-innocent ligands can be tuned through secondary metal-dependent interactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Recovering carbon losses in CO 2 electrolysis using a solid electrolyte reactor

The practical implementation of electrochemical CO 2 reduction technology is greatly challenged by notable CO 2 crossover to the anode side, where the crossed-over CO 2 is mixed with O 2 , via interfacial carbonate formation in traditional CO 2 electrolysers. Here we report a porous solid electrolyte reactor strategy to efficiently recover these carbon losses. Furthermore, by creating a permeable and ion-conducting sulfonated polymer electrolyte between cathode and anode as a buffer layer, the crossover carbonate can combine with protons generated from the anode to re-form CO 2 gas for reuse without mixing with anodic O 2 . Using a silver nanowire catalyst for CO 2 reduction to CO, we demonstrated up to 90% recovery of the crossover CO 2 in an ultrahigh gas purity form (>99%), while delivering over 90% CO Faradaic efficiency under a 200 mA cm -2 current. A high continuous CO 2 conversion efficiency of over 90% was achieved by recycling the recovered CO 2 to the CO 2 input stream.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Development of an innovative process for post-combustion CO 2 capture to produce high-value NaHCO 3 nanomaterials

An innovative post-combustion process using aqueous sodium glycinates solutions (SGS) for CO 2 capture from a split flue gas stream emitted from the 600 MWe coal power plant, used in the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture (WCEV) project, was developed in Aspen Plus v.10. The flue gas flow rate used in the process was 12.43 kg/s (at 353.15 K and 101.33 kPa) and contained 0.0023 and 13.33 mol% of SO 2 and CO 2 , respectively. The overall process includes 5 main units designed to remove all SO 2 and capture more than 90 mol% of CO 2 in the flue gas stream, while producing high-value, salable sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) nanomaterials to offset the total process costs. The hydraulics, mass transfer characteristics, and process performance obtained using Aspen Plus were discussed. Also, the capital expenditure (CAPEX), operating expenditure (OPEX), and Levelized cost of CO 2 capture (LCOC) were calculated to assess the feasibility of this process. Further, the hydraulics in the SO 2 washing and CO 2 capture units showed a pressure drop of 12 and 1 kPa, respectively, and the behaviors of the liquid holdup and normalized packing specific wetted surface area were similar in both units. The gas-side mass transfer coefficients were orders of magnitude greater than the liquid-side mass transfer coefficients. The process was able to capture 2.352 kg/s of CO 2 and produce 4.486 kg/s of valuable NaHCO 3 nanomaterials. Also, the calculated CAPEX, OPEX, and LCOC of the process for a 30-year plant lifetime were ($\$ $4,450,552), (233.00 $\$ $/h) and (35.49 $\$ $/ton of CO 2 captured), respectively.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Mechanistic understanding of support effect on the activity and selectivity of indium oxide catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation

Herein we present a mechanistic study on the support effect (ZrO 2 and CeO 2 ) of In 2 O 3 catalysts in CO 2 hydrogenation by a combined experimental and computational approach. Kinetic experiments and surface characterization suggested that the activity of In 2 O 3 catalysts cannot be simply correlated with the abundance of surface oxygen vacancies (O v ) formed by either H 2 -reduction or thermal treatment, which has been frequently invoked in previous studies. The support effect should originate from the electronic interactions between In 2 O 3 and the support oxide, rather than geometric factors or the difference in the particle size of In 2 O 3 . Theoretical modelling revealed that surface O v facilitate the formation and stabilization of the formate (HCOO*) intermediate. While a carbonate-like structure is favored for CO 2 adsorption on CeO 2 -supported or unsupported In 2 O 3 catalysts, CO 2 tends to bind strongly in a bent configuration on the O v site at the In 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 interface. The distinct CO 2 adsorption structures on different supported In 2 O 3 catalysts may account for the different reaction energy profiles in the subsequent hydrogenation reactions, especially the rate-limiting step, i.e., hydrogenation of HCOO* to CH 2 O* and methoxy (CH 3 O*). The relatively higher methanol selectivity of In 2 O 3 catalyst supported on ZrO 2 with respect to that on CeO 2 are suggested to stem from the greater energy difference (Δ$E_a$) between the parallel hydrogenation and C-O bond cleavage of HCOO*, which leads to the formation of methanol and CO, respectively. We report this study underlines the important role of metal-oxide-interface in determining the catalytic behavior of oxide-supported In 2 O 3 catalysts in CO 2 conversion.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Electrodeposited Sn–Cu@Sn dendrites for selective electrochemical CO 2 reduction to formic acid

Large-scale CO 2 electrolysis can be applied to store renewable energy in chemicals. Recent developments in gas diffusion electrodes now enable a commercially relevant current density. However, the low selectivity of the CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) still hinders practical applications. The selectivity of the CO 2 RR highly depends on the electrocatalyst. Sn catalysts are considered promising cathode materials for the production of formic acid. The selectivity of Sn catalysts can be regulated by controlling their morphology or alloying them with secondary metals. In this work, we enhanced the selectivity of CO 2 reduction to formic acid by synthesizing Sn–Cu@Sn dendrites that have a core@shell architecture. The Sn–Cu@Sn dendrites were prepared by a scalable electro-deposition method. The electronic structure was modified to suppress a reaction pathway for CO production on the Sn surface. Notably, the Sn shell inhibited the cathodic corrosion of Cu during the CO 2 RR. On a gas diffusion electrode, the Sn–Cu@Sn dendrites exhibited 84.2% faraday efficiency to formic acid for 120 h with high stability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Electrolyzers in focus: advances in CO 2 electrolyzer designs

Electrochemical CO 2 reduction (ECR) remains a viable method to reintegrate anthropogenic CO 2 into current energy infrastructures through its conversion into commodity chemicals. To facilitate the integration of ECR, electrochemical devices called electrolyzers must be implemented to overcome the inherent limitations that exist in current ECR experiments, namely kinetics and mass transport. In this review, we outline the current and advancing designs in ECR electrolyzers, with a focus on the following five electrochemical devices: membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), flow cell (FC), rotating disk electrode (RDE), rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE), and rotating cylinder electrode (RCE). We highlight the tunable components of each electrolyzer with a forward outlook on the optimization and relevance of electrolyzer designs in upcoming ECR applications.

CO2 reduction↗

An Electrochemical Hydrogen-Looping System for Low-Cost CO 2 Capture from Seawater

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture from seawater is a viable, long-term solution for addressing legacy carbon pollution on the planet. However, significant challenges to widespread applicability exist in terms of efficiency, cost, and scalability. In this work, we have developed an electrochemical hydrogen-looping (EHL) system that capitalizes on the generation of proton and OH – from seawater. A CO 2 capture efficiency as high as 91% is achieved for our EHL flow cell. We have demonstrated that the electrochemical hydrogen-looping flow cell can remove CO 2 from simulated seawater at a record low electric energy consumption of 660 kWh ton –1 CO 2 , which is a significant reduction of 56% compared with the currently used bipolar membrane electrodialysis technology. In conclusion, the electrochemical hydrogen-looping flow cell with its much lower energy consumption provides an economical approach for direct removal of CO 2 from seawater at practical scale.

Electrical energy↗

Morphology and chemical behavior of model CsO x /Cu 2 O/Cu(111) nanocatalysts for methanol synthesis: Reaction with CO 2 and H 2

Cs is a promoter of Cu-based catalysts for the synthesis of alcohols from CO 2 hydrogenation. Scanning tunneling microscopy and ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study the morphology and chemical properties of surfaces generated by the deposition of cesium on Cu 2 O/Cu(111) and Cu(111) substrates. CsO x nanostructures were formed after Cs metal was deposited on Cu 2 O/Cu(111) at 300 K. The formed CsO x protrude over the surface of copper oxide by 2–4 Å, with the dimension at the base of the nanostructures being in the range of 1–3 nm. Heating to elevated temperature induced significant changes in the size and dispersion of the CsO x nanostructures, and there was a clear reconstruction of the copper oxide substrate, which then exhibited long range order with a hexagonally packed structure. The as-deposited and annealed surfaces of CsO x /Cu 2 O/Cu(111) were more reactive toward CO 2 than plain Cu 2 O/Cu(111) or clean Cu(111). Yet, none of them were stable in the presence of H 2 , which fully reduced the copper oxide at 400–450 K. In CsO x /Cu(111), the CsO x nanoclusters were dispersed all over the metallic copper in no particular order. The CsO x species had an average width of 2 nm and ~1 Å height. The CsO x /Cu(111) systems exhibited the highest activity for the binding and dissociation of CO 2 , indicating that the CsO x -copper interface plays a key role in alcohol synthesis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗