May 30 | Jānis Kleperis

Dr. Jānis Kleperis (ISSP UL) speaks at the scientific workshop of ISSP UL Doctoral School “Functional Materials and Nanotechnologies”.

The aim of the CO₂EXIDE project is to develop an electrolysis device for producing ethylene oxide from biologically produced CO₂ - the cathode reduces carbon dioxide to ethylene and the anode oxidizes oxygen to H₂O₂. Further, both intermediates are chemically converted to ethylene oxide and, through cascade reactions, produce oligo- / polyethylene glycol, a starting material for the production of plastics.

The role of ISSP UL in the project:

1. An alternative cathode structure based on recycled graphite multi-layer graphene sheets in which a catalyst (copper) for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to ethylene is introduced;
2. Theoretical calculations have been made from the first principle graphene modified with copper atom clusters to determine at what potential the CO₂ conversion to ethylene is the most effective on electrode;
3. An in-situ electrochemical cell constructed for the control of reaction products for FTIR spectrometer;
4. SPEEK polymer composites with zirconium oxide nanoparticles and ionic liquid derived from imidazolium compounds are developed to form a membrane compatible with catalyst materials and stimulate CO₂ absorption on electrode.