FPU2025 - Advanced Electrocatalysts for CO₂ Conversion into High-Value Multicarbon Products

The rising concentration of CO₂ in our atmosphere is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Transforming CO₂ into valuable chemicals offers a dual benefit: mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while creating sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived products. Among these, multicarbon compounds (C₂+), such as ethylene, ethanol, and propanol, stand out as critical building blocks for fuels and industrial feedstocks. This PhD project aims to push the boundaries of electrochemical CO₂ conversion by developing next-generation electrocatalysts that enable selective and efficient production of these multicarbon products. The research combines materials innovation, advanced characterization, and electrochemical engineering, contributing to a transformative approach in green chemistry and energy transition. Scientific objectives • Design and synthesize hybrid electrocatalysts based on copper and heteroatom-doped carbon, using sustainable and scalable routes. • Unravel reaction mechanisms through in-depth electrochemical studies and in situ characterization. • Optimize selectivity and efficiency for C₂+ products by correlating structure-activity relationships. • Integrate catalysts into advanced electrochemical devices, paving the way for real-world applications.