Proceedings of MATSUS Fall 2023 Conference (MATSUSFall23)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.matsus.2023.366
Publication date: 18th July 2023
The development of sustainable strategies to produce added-value chemicals and fuels using renewable resources is particularly attractive to promote a transition towards a more sustainable energetic landscape, overcoming the dependence of fossil fuels at a global scale. One of the most promising alternatives involves the use of renewable electricity (wind, solar, hydropower, etc…) to power electrochemical conversion processes, which convert abundant molecules (e.g., water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen) into higher-value products (e.g., hydrogen, hydrocarbons, oxygenates, and ammonia). In this context, the use of materials based on earth-abundant elements (Fe, Ni, Cu, etc…) is key to ensure the scalability and large-scale implementation. We will discuss the use of some earth-abundant (photo)electrocatalysts based on these elements for different reactions of wide technological interest, also focusing on the mechanistic understanding of the physical-chemical processes taking place during operation.