Elec­trocata­lys­is

We specialise in the design and manufacture of highly doped carbonaceous materials. Their high heteroatom content makes it possible to use these materials as carriers to stabilise large amounts of metallic centres without the formation of nanoparticles - simply through a simple impregnation and calcination strategy. This makes it possible to produce materials in which metallic centres are coordinated not only with nitrogen atoms but also with oxygen atoms, which influences the selectivity of the materials in various reactions.

Take a look at our results on the revalorisation of CO₂, in which these materials are used as electrocatalysts. The aim of this process is to convert CO₂ - a major greenhouse gas - into valuable chemicals. These products are typically derived from fossil resources; therefore, this approach offers a sustainable alternative and contributes to mitigating climate change.

  • J. Kossmann, M. L. O. Sánchez-Manjavacas, H. Zschiesche, N. V. Tarakina, M. Antonietti, J. Albero* and N. López-Salas*, "CuII/CuI decorated N-doped carbonaceous electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction", Journal of Materials Chemistry A 10 (11) (2021) 6107-6114.
  • E. Lepre, J. Heske, M. Nowakowski, E. Scoppola, I. Zizak, T. Heil, T. D. Kühne, M. Antonietti, N. López-Salas*, Josep Albero*, "Ni-Based Electrocatalysts for Unconventional CO2 Reduction Reaction to Formic Acid", Nano Energy (2022), 97, 107191.
  • J. Kossmann, M. L. O. Sánchez-Manjavacas, J. Brandt, T. Heil, N. López-Salas* and J. Albero*, "Mn(II) sub-nanometric sites stabilisation in noble, N-doped carbonaceous materials for electrochemical CO2 reduction", Chemical Communications (2022), 58, 4841-4844.

The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrates to ammonia using carbonaceous materials decorated with metal oxides is also a hot research topic. High nitrate levels in ground and surface water are problematic both for aquatic organisms and for human health. However, the reduction to ammonia produces a valuable chemical that is used in the production of numerous nitrogen-containing compounds. The electrocatalytic production of ammonia therefore offers a more sustainable alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. Take a look at our recent work in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces:

  • X. Zheng, Z. Tian, R. Bouchal, M. Antonietti, N. López-Salas, M. Odziomek*, "Tin (II) Chloride Salt Melts as Non-Innocent Solvents for the Synthesis of Low-Temperature Nanoporous Oxo-Carbons for Nitrate Electrochemical Hydrogenation", Advanced Materials (2023), 2311575.