Guest Lecture Prof. Dr. Jose Serra - Instituto de Tecnología QuímicaAbstract:
Solid-state ionic materials play a crucial role in chemical reactors and energy conversion devices like fuel cells, electrolysis and batteries. Their emerging application in industrial processes is key to reducing CO2 emissions through electrification. Electrochemical solid-electrolyte cells enable catalytic reactor designs that shift chemical equilibria and enhance product separation, improving efficiency. This talk explores electrochemically-driven catalytic reactors based on ceramic ion-conducting cells, where selective electrocatalysts direct reactions toward desired gas products. Protonic membrane reactors, utilizing proton-conducting, facilitate equilibrium-limited reactions involving H2. Beyond equilibrium shifts, additional mechanisms enhance efficiency and stability. Micro-thermal integration optimizes heat distribution across the conductor by coupling exothermic and endothermic reactions. The process electrification by using microwave-driven redox activation of solid-state ionic-conducting materials, as doped CeO2 and ZrO2. These materials can be chemically reduced at unprecedented low temperatures (<220 °C) by the sole application of microwave radiation, leading to an instantaneous outstanding rise in electrical conductivity. The ability of microwave radiation to evolve O2 and transmute the redox catalytic behaviour in oxides can be used in the electrification of several catalytic processes, such as the partial oxidation of methane to produce olefins or syngas, and as a new tool for the formation of catalytic nanoparticles via exsolution. Direct formation of molecular energy carriers, such as H2 and CO, is possible through further reaction of the redox-activated solid material and low-energy molecules via a deoxygenation mechanism.Read more
