Identifier: TDX:3839
Authors: De Fez Febré, Mabel
Abstract:
The most plausible solution to satisfy the world’s energy demand following
an environmentally friendly approach, is the use of renewable energies, such
as the energy from the sun, solar energy, or the energy from the fermentation
of organic matter under anaerobic conditions, biomass.
On the one hand, the aim is the replacement of fossil fuels by carbon-free
solar fuels, i.e., energy-rich chemicals formed with the help of sunlight.
Artificial photosynthesis is implemented for this purpose. A strategy to store
solar energy in chemical bonds (H2 and O2) and overcome the intermittency of
this energy source. However, these storing systems have a bottleneck, the
oxidation reaction of water to O2. Therefore, the search for a robust, efficient
and inexpensive heterogeneous water oxidation catalyst is one of the greatest
challenges that scientists are facing nowadays for the implementation of this
energy-solving strategy as a commercial technology. This Thesis will develop
the study of two different approaches to understand their contributions to the
electrocatalytic properties of working anodes based on Earth abundant metals
for the electrocatalytic water oxidation reaction in alkaline media. In Chapter
2, we will study the effect of doping on the electrocatalytic properties of
hematite anodes doped with different concentrations of redox vs. non-redox
active species (Ni and Zn). In Chapter 3, we will discuss the catalytic
performance towards Oxygen Evolution Reaction in alkaline media of two
series of spinel ferrites anodes: Ni1–xZnxFe2On and (Ni1–xZnx)2FeOn, analysing the
effect of their controlled stoichiometry with variable Zn and Ni compositions.
On the other hand, biomass, particularly biogas, could be another promising
renewable energy due to the environmental benefit of using bio-methane as a
substitute for fossil fuels. The bottleneck of this green fuel is the purification step, as biogas contains large quantities of CO2 that must be removed since
they reduce its calorific value. For this reason, the development and
implementation of effective carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)
technology is crucial. Thus, in Chapter 4 the objective will be to study our
patented Metal-Organic Framework, TAMOF-1, as an adsorbent material for
separation of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen mixtures by physisorption
adsorption processes, comparing it with one of the most relevant commercial
adsorbents, Cu-BTC. Finally, in Chapter 5 the range of application of this
TAMOF-1 will be studied, extending its use to the separation of light
hydrocarbons such as paraffin, olefin and alkyne gas mixtures, which are
essential energy resources and raw materials for the production of several
chemical products of high industrial importance.
Repositori URV