Light activation of molecular catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction (LACOR)
Main funder
Funder's project number: 5482-2a4a9
Funds granted by main funder (€)
- 268 374,00
Funding program
Project timetable
Project start date: 01/04/2021
Project end date: 31/03/2024
Summary
The project tackles the carbon-neutrality challenge by developing an effective platform to
convert atmospheric carbon dioxide to valuable chemical compounds using solar energy. Our approach builds on photocatalysis and requires an efficient light harvester transferring photon energy
to a catalyst, which is used to overcome energy barriers associated with CO2 reduction reactions.
The novelty of our approach is to deploy the synergy between efficient solar harvesting by nanoparticles and best-known molecular CO2 reduction electrocatalysts, which are activated through photoinduced electron transfer from nanoparticles to which they are binding to. By combining expertizes in advanced synthesis, laser spectroscopy, materials science and high-level computational chemistry, the project will lead to new levels of photocatalytic efficiency and create the knowledge to advance the filed towards the dream target of CO2 conversion to valuable molecules.
convert atmospheric carbon dioxide to valuable chemical compounds using solar energy. Our approach builds on photocatalysis and requires an efficient light harvester transferring photon energy
to a catalyst, which is used to overcome energy barriers associated with CO2 reduction reactions.
The novelty of our approach is to deploy the synergy between efficient solar harvesting by nanoparticles and best-known molecular CO2 reduction electrocatalysts, which are activated through photoinduced electron transfer from nanoparticles to which they are binding to. By combining expertizes in advanced synthesis, laser spectroscopy, materials science and high-level computational chemistry, the project will lead to new levels of photocatalytic efficiency and create the knowledge to advance the filed towards the dream target of CO2 conversion to valuable molecules.