SENECA Talk: Beyond Hydrogen: Solar-Driven Electrolysis Coupled with Valuable Chemical Synthesis

Date & time: 12 June, 10 am-11 am
Location: Online
Registration is required.

Abstract

The transition to sustainable energy requires not only clean hydrogen but also innovative pathways for producing high-value chemicals. Solar-driven electrolysis offers a unique platform to integrate chemical synthesis with renewable energy, reducing reliance on energy-intensive processes. In this talk, we explore opportunities beyond conventional water splitting by cataloging alternative reactions proposed in the literature and evaluating them through techno-economic and life-cycle assessments. [1] This analysis considers feedstock cost, market demand, and environmental impact to identify reactions with the greatest potential. We then highlight experimental demonstrations from our lab, including solar-driven electrolysis coupled with homogeneous hydrogenation for converting itaconic acid to methyl succinic acid, as well as alternative oxidation reactions such as glycerol oxidation, ethylene glycol oxidation from plastic waste, and succinic acid oxidation from food waste. [2-4] These reactions often have limited conversion and selectivity, and our efforts in controlling them through engineering materials, microenvironment and operational parameters will be presented. Finally, we discuss strategies for scaling these concepts, including high-pressure operation and reaction selection frameworks, [5] paving the way for practical solar-driven chemical production.

Fatwa F. Abdi is an Associate Professor in the School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). He obtained his PhD (cum laude) in Chemical Engineering from TU Delft, the Netherlands, where he was the recipient of the Martinus van Marum prize from the Royal Dutch Society of Sciences and Humanities. Prior to joining CityUHK in 2023, he was a group leader and the deputy head of Institute for Solar Fuels, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Germany. His research group is interested in the development of materials and engineering of devices for solar-to-chemical conversion applications. His group focuses on complex metal oxides with activities spanning from investigating their fundamental material properties to implementing bulk and surface modification strategies to overcome their limitations. At the same time, his group utilizes the combination of multiphysics modeling and validation experiments to identify challenges associated with device engineering.

Coordinator contact

Sudhanshu.Shukla@imec.be