Speaker: Prof.Jingguang Chen, Columbia University

Time: 15:00 p.m., July 12, 2023, GMT+8

Venue: College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Room A205

Abstract:

Converting CO2 to value-added chemicals and fuels is one of the most practical routes for reducing CO2 emissions while fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy sector in the near future. In this talk we will present several routes in catalytic CO2 conversion: (1) CO2 hydrogenation by thermocatalysis. (2) simultaneous upgrading of CO2 and shale gas, and (3) CO2 reduction by electrocatalysis. We will use these examples to highlight the importance of combining exprimental studies, in situ characterization and density functional theory calculations for the mechanistic understanding of CO2 conversion. We will use the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol as an example to illustrate challenges in achieving a net-reduction of CO2 by performing mass and energy balance analysis. We will demonstrate the application of chemical engineering principles, including thermodynamics, kinetics and transport, to the catalytic conversion of CO2. We willalso discuss proof-of-principle results of several promising catalytic reactions using tandem processes to convert CO2 and light alkanes to svngas, olefins, aromatics and oxygenates.

Biography:

Jingguang Chen is the Thayer Lindsley Professor of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University. He received his bachelor degree from Nanjing University and his PhD degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is the co-author of 23 United States patents and 480 journal publications, and he is recognized as a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher. He is currently the President of the North Americar Catalysis Society and an Associate Editor of ACS Catalysis.  He received manyawards, including the George Olah Award on Hydrocarbon and Petroleum Chemistry from the American Chemical Society and the Robert Wilhelm Award on Chemical Reaction Engineering from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Source: College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering