NETPEC

Project goals

The goal of NETPEC2 is to expand the CDR portfolio with an efficient and versatile (photo-) electrochemical approach in which CO₂ is converted into long-term stable carbon sink products via artificial photosynthesis. The resulting efficiency, which describes the efficiency of the solar-driven conversion process — the solar-to-carbon efficiency (STC) — is potentially significantly higher than in natural photosynthesis. The selection of efficient storage, makes it, in principle, possible to reduce the land and water consumption required for CDR by orders of magnitude as compared to bio-based methods, thereby mitigating potential land-use conflicts, which is why artificial photosynthesis represents a promising alternative. The project focuses on the development and improvement of electrocatalytic processes for the production of carbon flakes and oxalate. These are chemical products that have already been identified as efficient carbon sinks. While the currently used GaInSn-Ce-based liquid metal catalyst is already yielding promising results in the production of carbon flakes, a lead-free catalyst for the production of oxalate is to be developed. For both approaches, the underlying electrochemical processes are to be analyzed and fully understood, for which a combination of experimental methods and atomistic simulations will be used. The resulting insights will allow us to identify improved catalysts and process parameters to increase the efficiency of the conversion processes. Based on the optimized electrochemical process, the development of a fully functional prototype is planned, which can then be evaluated under realistic operating conditions. Each stage of development will be accompanied by an ongoing assessment of the process’s sustainability and the influence of — and on — climatic conditions.
In the overall approach, the CO₂ uptake will be realized by a process similar to direct air capture. However, the CO₂ is then stored in the form of solid carbon (similar to biochar) or organic minerals, with both forms allowing for safe storage in flexible manner and also near the surface.