Embracing disorder: Pioneering catalyst disorder for transformative carbon dioxide conversion

This Fellowship aims to unlock the latent potential of carbon dioxide as a versatile chemical feedstock, facilitating the development of sustainable fuels and chemicals. Building upon Taylor's pioneering work in supercritical anti-solvent synthesis, this Fellowship seeks to exploit new catalysts generated from novel disordered solid-state precursors that hold the potential to revolutionise the landscape of heterogeneous catalyst development. The Fellowship will redefine the role of catalysts in carbon dioxide conversion, exploiting the innovative potential of disordered precursors to synthesise functional materials. These precursors, characterised by their unique structural and chemical attributes, will allow us to break away from restrictions imposed by traditional highly ordered crystalline materials, and enable the creation of novel catalysts with transformative potential across diverse industrial applications. Once the structure-activity relationships of these advanced materials are understood for carbon dioxide conversion to methanol, new catalysts will be designed for the direct conversion of carbon dioxide to chemicals and fuels. The applicant and assembled team are strategically positioned to exploit the potential of these new catalyst precursors, through their expertise in catalyst preparation, fundamental understanding, and the practical application of heterogeneous catalysis. This holistic strategy is enriched through synergistic collaborations with experts in advanced and in situ characterisation techniques, envisaging an accelerated trajectory toward catalyst discovery and the rational design of catalysts. Catalysts are essential as they enable the efficient manufacture of many key products required by society. They also offer the potential to create new processes and exploit under used resources, but many challenges still exist that require new and improved catalysts. This Fellowship addresses one such challenge by elucidating paradigm-shifting pathways for the development of novel catalysts capable of conversion of carbon dioxide. It is driven by the urgent need to underpin sustainable manufacturing processes, attain net-zero carbon emissions, and provide technology to mitigate against global climate change. Using carbon dioxide as a feedstock is a priority objective in the pursuit of carbon neutrality within manufacturing sectors, supporting the UK's strategic vision for a circular economy and the ambitious target of net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050. Importantly, this initiative aligns seamlessly with the EPSRC’s Enabling Transitions strategy, with a specific focus on sustainability and advanced manufacturing. The benefits are multidimensional. Replacing conventional fossil fuel resources with sustainable alternatives will potentially reshape the UK chemical industry, characterised by an annual turnover exceeding £20 billion. Furthermore, it champions the principles of atom and energy efficiency, converging with the goals articulated by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Chemistry Growth Partnership for low-carbon manufacturing. Cleaner chemical processes and products will diminish the environmental footprint, enhancing the quality of life for communities impacted by industrial activities, whilst supporting economic growth. This Fellowship is inherently collaborative and cooperative, interfacing effectively with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) initiatives in low carbon futures and the circular economy, while also benefiting from and contributing to the foundational work of the UK Catalysis Hub. It will accelerate catalyst discovery in an industry already projected to experience an annual growth rate of approximately 4.8%, thereby directly benefiting the United Kingdom's preeminent supply chain in catalyst manufacture. It will help to establish a more robust and resilient supply chain for chemicals and materials, aligning with the ambitious objectives set by the Chemistry Growth Partnership.