VSSC-RESPOND

Synthesis, Characterization and application of a novel metal complex photo catalyst system for carbon dioxide splitting (Funded Project)

Funded by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO, Trivandrum
Amount: Rs.14, 50,800/-
Duration: 2 Years
Principal Collaborator: Dr.Illangovan, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO, Trivandrum
Principal Investigator: Dr.Dawn .S S,Scientist-E, Centre for Waste Management
Co-Investigator: Dr.J.Brijitta,Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
JRF: Rashmi Kumari, Centre for Waste Management

Summary of the work done

With the growing energy demand, alternate technologies have been developing in full swing over the past two decades. Renewable and Alternate energy sources are not only being dealt as a solution to meet the energy crisis but have also proven in contributing to the reduction of green house gases leading to Global Warming and Climate Change. Carbon dioxide is a potential green house gas. Researchers have reported several methods of preventing CO2 from entering into the atmosphere by splitting it to produce Oxygen. Thermochemical reduction, Photoreduction, electrochemical reduction and use of metal complexes or metal oxides to abstract the Oxygen from CO2 to form CO in low turnover have all been successfully attempted. The current research is being carried out with a focus not only to give a solution to make use of the excess availability of CO 2 in the Martian environment but also to control the pollutant CO2 in the earthen environment. Of the several methods attempted for CO2 splitting, polypyridyl Ru Complexes have proved effective and efficient. In order to enhance the concentration of the reactant CO2 at the catalyst surface and reduce the activation energy required for the splitting of CO2 in comparison with the earlier proven metal complexes, synthesis of an effective, efficient and reclaimable catalyst system was carried out. To study the performance of the catalyst in splitting CO2 an electrolytic cell that will favor water oxidation in one-half cell and Carbon dioxide reduction the other half was designed and the specifications given for fabrication. The electrolytic cell for carbon dioxide splitting was fabricated with two different sets of electrode systems for getting higher yields of oxygen. The catalyst before being dispersed in the electrolytic cell for further characterized using XRD, FT-IR, TGA and NMR. The results obtained confirmed the ruthenium complex catalyst for its effective functionality in spitting carbon dioxide. The effective conversion of carbon dioxide to yield oxygen was studied using UV spectrophotometry. The reduction in catalytic activity will have to be tested and may need time for completion.