Excess and underutilised renewable energy can power the conversion of abundant molecules, such as water, CO₂, and N₂, into energy-carriers, commonly referred to as renewable Power-to-X, or P2X.¹ One promising route P2X pathway is the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (CO₂RR) using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts to produce value added chemicals.²

This method mimics the photosynthesis process occurring in plants and can be carried out in ambient conditions through the application of external bias, providing the opportunity to be coupled with electricity generated from renewable energy. CO₂RR can thus provide additional benefits of storing the diffusive and intermittent renewable energy resources in the form of chemical fuels, such as carbon monoxide, methanol, ethanol, formic acid, formaldehyde, or methane. The stable form of these chemicals means that they can be stored and transported long distances and are available on demand.

These products can assist in the decarbonisation of a range of emitting industries, including power generation, cement manufacturing, fertiliser production, steel and aluminium manufacturing, and the transportation sector, with the ability to partner the CO₂RR with further P2X pathways, including water splitting for H2 production, and the electrochemical reduction of nitrates (NO_x) to ammonia.³

This PhD project will focus on the design, synthesis, and electrochemical testing of novel carbon based catalysts for CO₂RR.  In order to accelerate the commercial feasibility of the various reaction pathways, the student will focus on improving and optimising catalyst design through active sites engineering, as well as enhancing production rate and investigating technoeconomic feasibility through the use of prototype electrolyser flow cells, mimicking industrially relevant conditions.

A background in materials synthesis, electrocatalysis, and materials characterisation would be beneficial, but not essential.

Key Techniques:

Electrochemistry, nanomaterial design and synthesis, in-situ and ex-situ physical characterisation, techno-economic assessments, and performance evaluations for scaleup potential

Research Environment:

The student will have the opportunity to work in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Carbon Science and Innovation and Particles and Catalysis Research Laboratories. The student will have access to well-equipped laboratories with comprehensive experimental facilities for photo/electrocatalysis research and will work in a multidisciplinary research environment and learn various functional skills.

Supervisors:

Dr. Rahman Daiyan (School of Mineral & Energy Resources) and Scientia Prof. Rose Amal (School of Chemical Engineering) at UNSW Sydney. Further information regarding the project and application process can be obtained by contacting Dr. Rahman Daiyan (r.daiyan@unsw.edu.au)

Application:

If you are interested to apply for PhD admission and scholarship at UNSW, please check for eligibility, requirements and application deadlines, please go to UNSW Graduate Research Website outlining eligibility requirement and application step by step process: https://research.unsw.edu.au/submit-application

Any questions on admission/scholarship email: partcat@unsw.edu.au

References:

(1) Daiyan, R.; MacGill, I.; Amal, R. Opportunities and Challenges for Renewable Power-to-X. ACS Energy Lett 2020, 5 (12), 3843–3847. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.0c02249.

(2)    Daiyan, R.; Saputera, W. H.; Masood, H.; Leverett, J.; Lu, X.; Amal, R. A Disquisition on the Active Sites of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Value-Added Chemicals and Fuel. Adv Energy Mater 2020, 1902106, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201902106.

(3)   Leverett, J.; Tran-Phu, T.; Yuwono, J. A.; Kumar, P.; Kim, C.; Zhai, Q.; Han, C.; Qu, J.; Cairney, J.; Simonov, A. N.; Hocking, R. K.; Dai, L.; Daiyan, R.; Amal, R. Tuning the Coordination Structure of Cu-N-C Single Atom Catalysts for Simultaneous Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 and NO3– to Urea. Adv Energy Mater 2022, 12 (32), 2201500. https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202201500.