Understanding oxide-based catalysts for high-pressure CO2 hydrogenation using X-ray techniques

We are in the process of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources for electricity generation, with a focus on solar, hydroelectric, wind, and photovoltaic power. However, the time-variable nature of these renewable sources requires effective methods for storing energy during periods of peak production for later use. The hydrogenation of CO2 to convert electrolytic H2 into liquid fuels is anticipated to become a pivotal technology for storing this excess electricity. This also opens up possibilities for transforming CO2 waste into valuable building blocks for the chemical industry. Novel oxide-based catalysts offer enhanced selectivity over traditional copper-based catalysts, but our understanding of the relationship between catalytic structure and activity remains limited.

In this DPhil (PhD) project, the researcher will leverage a newly acquired portable profile reactor to reveal how the reaction mechanism varies with catalyst composition and reaction conditions. Beyond routine catalytic testing, the project will focus on atomic-scale investigations of a novel oxide-based catalyst system for methanol synthesis with operandohard X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction to study electronic and structural changes under a range of industrially relevant conditions. Additionally, the researcher will have the opportunity to expand the project by integrating a surface science approach, using a novel environmental cell developed within the group (see https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jacs.2c12728). This cell features graphene windows, enabling surface-sensitive soft X-ray spectroscopy at more realistic pressures. The researcher will utilise state-of-the-art chemical and physical vapor deposition systems for catalyst preparation, and XAFS/XPS instruments within the group and at international synchrotron facilities, including the nearby Diamond Light Source.

Any questions concerning the project can be addressed to Dr Robert Weatherup (robert.weatherup@materials.ox.ac.uk).

General enquiries on how to apply can be made by e mail to graduate.studies@materials.ox.ac.uk.  You must complete the standard Oxford University Application for Graduate Studies.  Further information and an electronic copy of the application form can be found at https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/applying-to-oxford.