CO2 REMOVAL - II

The IMEM-UPC research line focuses on the development of advanced catalytic materials for the capture and valorization of CO₂, with particular emphasis on permanently polarized hydroxyapatite (p-HAp) and ultraporous structures (upp-HAp). These materials exploit enhanced charge-transfer properties and tailored surface active sites to promote the adsorption, activation, and transformation of CO₂, offering a promising alternative to conventional catalysts based on noble metals. Their composition, porosity, electrical properties, and surface chemistry are engineered to improve catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability.

Our research combines materials design, multiscale characterization, and catalytic reaction engineering to understand how the structure and electrical properties of these materials control CO₂ conversion. We investigate new catalyst formulations and hybrid architectures, reaction pathways, and kinetic mechanisms to selectively produce valuable chemicals such as ethanol, isopropanol, urea, and carboxylic acids. This approach enables the development of rational design strategies that move beyond empirical catalyst optimization toward a deeper understanding of CO₂ activation and selective carbon conversion.

A key objective is to translate this fundamental knowledge into sustainable technologies for industrial decarbonization and circular carbon utilization. IMEM works on adapting these catalytic systems to real industrial emission streams, optimizing their performance under representative conditions, and supporting their integration into continuous catalytic reactors. By combining abundant, low-cost materials with CO₂ conversion under potentially moderate operating conditions, this research aims to transform industrial CO₂ emissions from a waste stream into a valuable feedstock for the production of chemicals, connecting advanced materials research with circular economy and sustainable industrial processes.