Solar driven CO2 reduction and alcohol oxidation without sacrificial reagent.

Fossil fuels are our primary energy sources; however, their combustion causes climate change due to the production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). A key solution to climate change is the direct solar-powered production of fuels from CO2. SOLAR-CAT links the conversion of CO2 into high value chemicals with the oxidation of biomass derivatives.

This project aims to develop photocatalytic systems that will operate in aqueous media without any sacrificial reagent utilizing only earth abundant chemicals.

The developed dye-sensitized photocatalytic systems (DSPs) will contain cobalt complexes of quaterpyridine and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidine N-oxyl (TEMPO) derivatives as catalysts for CO2 reduction and biomass oxidation, respectively.During the first part of the fellowship, under the supervision of Dr.

Fabrice Odobel (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, CNRS), the fellow will be trained in alcohol oxidation, photo-induced electron transfer, and the development of dye-sensitized systems. During his secondment at University of Paris (UP), he will be trained by Prof. Marc Roberts research group in electrochemistry, CO2 catalysis and surface chemistry.

The fellows experience in photocatalysis, molecular synthesis, and DSP development will provide a unique opportunity for the host group to apply their knowledge in DSPs to simultaneous photo-induced CO2 reduction and alcohol oxidation.

SOLAR-CAT is a highly inter- and multi-disciplinary project as it brings together the fields of molecular synthesis, catalysis, material sciences, electro- and photo-chemistry, and analytical chemistry.

This project will enable the transition of the fellow from recognized researcher (R2) to an established researcher (R3) reaching his career goal (tenure track position in academia), throughout the scientific and personal training actions, the development of his transferable skills, the coordination and the management of the project.