Session: General Catalysis:

In recent years, it has been discovered that with the use of a catalytic surface, CO2 can be converted into valuable chemicals instead of being detrimental to the earth's atmosphere, essentially reducing the effects of global warming and climate change. While catalytically activating CO2, one of the most stable carbon containing molecules, remains a challenge, it necessitates research for the development of desirable catalysts of high activity and selectivity for the reduction of CO2. It has been revealed with the additional use of hydrogenation the effectiveness of CO2 utilization has been improved. Direct hydrogenation of CO2 to lower olefins is highly desirable due to the applications of the light olefins in the synthesis of a wide variety of polymers. Hence, a selective conversion of CO2 to lower olefins can be accomplished through CO2 hydrogenation over a series of bimetallic catalysts supported on α-Fe2O3. The catalytic performance over the bimetallic catalysts was compared with the respective monometallic catalysts. Monometallic and bimetallic supported catalysts were prepared using wet incipient methods. The synthesized catalysts were evaluated with CO2 and H2 in a plug flow reactor (PFR) at various temperatures using gas chromatography for product determination. The physical and chemical properties of the catalysts were characterized using chemisorption, temperature programmed reduction (TPR), and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). To have an in-depth understanding of the reaction and the mechanism of deactivation, further characterizations were conducted using in situ ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS), in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) to probe catalyst structures and surface species under reaction conditions. Ultimately, bimetallic catalysts can provide an ideal and practical model system for the selective reduction of CO2 in regards to environmental catalysis and as a way of providing alternative sustainable energy.

Nicole Forte

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