Grant: 2.23 MDKK for 1 year
Associate Professor Nina Lock, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University
Associate Professor Magnus Kjærgaard, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
This project aims to increase the effectiveness of enhancing the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to useful C2 compounds.
Nina Lock is an associate professor specializing in materials chemistry, and Magnus Kjærgaard is an associate professor specializing in biological functions of protein dynamics. They are combining their expertise to apply a new approach to the conversion of CO2 into C2 compounds such as ethylene and ethanol. These compounds can then serve as platform chemicals for new products.
The two researchers aim at developing a novel class of catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic CO2 conversion into C2 products by using a cross-disciplinary approach and inspiration from nature. Because proteins are derived from nature, protein-based catalysts are inherently sustainable to produce. Based on experience from protein biotechnology, the thesis is that it is realistic to scale up such a solution to the scale needed to make a dent in CO2 emissions.
