Photothermal Catalytic Methane Dry Reforming for Scalable Syngas Production

R&D Focus Areas:
Photochemical and photocatalytic processes, Specialised components and devices

Lead Organisation:
The University of Adelaide

Partners:
Not applicable

Status:
Active

Start date:
January 2025

Completion date:
December 2027

Key contacts:
Dr Jinqiang Zhang: jinqiang.zhang@adelaide.edu.au

Funding:
AUD$454,519 – Australian Research Council (ARC)

Project total cost:
To be completed.

Project summary description:
This project aims to develop novel non-noble metal/metal oxide materials with multiscale metal-support interfaces for unravelling photothermal catalytic mechanisms, efficiently harnessing full-spectrum sunlight, and robustly converting carbon dioxide and natural gas into high value-added fuels. Innovations are expected in the rational design and tailoring of materials, fundamental knowledge in photo-driven catalysis and breakthroughs in solar energy utilisation for carbon dioxide and methane conversions. Expected outcomes will present a series of structure-tailored, activity-enhanced and selectivity-oriented photothermal catalysts for scaling production of solar fuels.

Production of many clean fuels is currently hampered due to high production costs and unsatisfactory yields. This research project aims to overcome these economic and technical barriers by strategically leveraging the functionalisation of photothermal catalysts and designing and engineering advanced reaction devices to harness full-spectrum sunlight for converting carbon dioxide and methane into clean syngas fuels.

Related publications and key links:
Grant – Grants Data Portal

Higher degree studies supported:
One PhD student (chemical engineering) is supported.

 

January 2025