TITLE: From Atomically precise Clusters to Nanoparticles: Catalysis for Sustainable Energy Conversion
AUTHORS: Petr Vítek, Karolína Simkovičová, Federico Loi - Department of Nanocatalysis, Heyrovský Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 2155/3, 182 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic
INVITED BY: Yves Huttel & Lidia Martínez
WHEN: October, 21 - 12PM
WHERE: Sala de Seminarios, ICMM
ABSTRACT: Catalysis plays a key role in the development of sustainable energy technologies, from hydrogen production to the conversion of CO2 into valuable fuels. Our group investigates catalytic materials across different length scales, from atomically precise subnanometer clusters to larger nanoparticles and powder catalysts, combining materials synthesis with advanced characterization. In this seminar, we will first discuss how atomically precise Cu–Pd clusters, containing only a handful of atoms, enable hydrogen production from cyclohexene through a recently identified oxygen-promoted dehydrogenation mechanism. We will then explore how Cu-promoted FeOx nanoparticles can use hydrogen to convert CO2 into valuable fuels, contributing to the development of more sustainable energy cycles. In both studies, conventional techniques and synchrotron-based in situ experiments reveal how the structure and composition of the catalysts evolve under reaction conditions and determine their activity. Together, these examples illustrate how understanding the relationship between atomic-scale structure and catalytic function can help guide the design of materials for sustainable energy conversion.
