Ä¢¹½tv ChE PhD Student’s Paper Published on CO2 Reduction
October 15, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – Monsuru Dauda, a third-year Ph.D. student in the Ä¢¹½tv Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, has had a very busy 2024. He’s co-authored five research conference papers and been lead author on another two, the most recent being published in the . This latest publication brings his total for the year to seven.
The paper, titled “Activity and Selectivity in the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 at CuSnx Electrocatalysts Using a Zero-Gap Membrane Electrode Assembly,� details the research done by and his co-authors on developing a method to utilize captured CO2 from fermentation or petrochemical processes, along with water, to produce ethanol.
“Ethanol is a crucial feedstock for numerous industries, including biofuels, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food preservation, cleaning products, paints, inks, plastics, textiles, and chemical synthesis, making it indispensable in modern industrial processes,� Dauda said. “This research helps create a cleaner environment by reducing harmful CO2 emissions, which contribute to climate change. By converting CO2 into ethanol, we’re promoting sustainable and eco-friendly products while supporting cleaner energy alternatives. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and contributes to a healthier and more sustainable future for everyone.�
In the study, the research team used copper (Cu), tin (Sn), and bimetallic CuSnx nanoparticles that were synthesized and evaluated as electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction using zero-gap membrane electrode assemblies.
“This dual metal system allows for a tunable approach to achieve desirable CO2 reduction products, especially ethanol and ethylene, under controlled conditions, particularly in membrane electrode assembly configurations,� Dauda added.
Dauda’s co-authors on the paper were Ä¢¹½tv Chemical Engineering graduate students , Mustapha Bello, , and Alvaro Loaiza Orduz; Ä¢¹½tv Chemical Engineering faculty and Craig Plaisance; researchers Orhan Kizilkaya and from the Ä¢¹½tv J. Bennett Johnston Sr. Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD); and , assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware.
Dauda’s research is conducted under the guidance of Ä¢¹½tv Associate Vice President of Natural and Built Environments and Chemical Engineering Professor .
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