Dynamic catalysts for the production of clean energy

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt
• Subject Area: Technical Chemistry
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 431423888

The DYCAT research project aims to investigate the interaction between a catalytically active metal (Pt and Pd) and CeO2, used as a support. We have recently found that the structure and electronic properties of platinum can be optimized by applying a suitable catalyst pretreatment based on short-term alternating reducing/oxidizing sequences at mild temperatures. This concept of “dynamic catalysts” can tailor and stabilize efficient nanoparticles for catalysis. The DYCAT project objective is to unravel and transfer this innovative concept to further key catalytic reactions in energy production, such as the water-gas shift reaction for H2 production and the clean catalytic combustion of CH4. For developing highly active catalysts, mainly the CeO2 surface properties and its interaction with Pt and Pd will be considered. The scientific approach is based on the coupling between advanced in-situ/operando characterization techniques, kinetics/catalytic performance and theoretical modelling. Synchrotron based techniques with high time and spatial resolutions like X-ray absorption / emission spectroscopy (XAS, ME-XAS, HERFD-XANES or V2C-XES) will be used to access information on the electronic state, local coordination environment, interaction with reactants and noble metal particle size variation under applied reaction conditions. Complementary information on the dynamic variations of active sites at the nanoscale will be obtained on a new generation of Environmental Transmission Electron Microscope (aberration-corrected) with a high temporal resolution. The synergy between these two families of characterization methods is essential, very innovative, and a clear added value to the Franco-German collaboration. Furthermore, the coupling of these cutting-edge methods with systematic catalytic tests and theoretical calculations is expected to significantly improve the fundamental understanding of the noble metal/ceria interface dynamic behaviour, which is the prerequisite for operando shaping efficient catalysts for WGS and CH4 oxidation reactions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Cooperation Partners: Carine Michel, Ph.D.; Philippe Vernoux, Ph.D.