LSU ChE PhD Student's Paper Published on CO2 Reduction
October 15, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – Monsuru Dauda, a third-year Ph.D. student in the LSU Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, has had a very busy 2024. He’s co-authored five research conference papers and been lead author on another two, the most recent being published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society. This latest publication brings his total for the year to seven.
The paper, titled “Activity and Selectivity in the Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 at CuSnx Electrocatalysts Using a Zero-Gap Membrane Electrode Assembly,” details the research done by Dauda and his co-authors on developing a method to utilize captured CO2 from fermentation or petrochemical processes, along with water, to produce ethanol.
“Ethanol is a crucial feedstock for numerous industries, including biofuels, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food preservation, cleaning products, paints, inks, plastics, textiles, and chemical synthesis, making it indispensable in modern industrial processes,” Dauda said. “This research helps create a cleaner environment by reducing harmful CO2 emissions, which contribute to climate change. By converting CO2 into ethanol, we’re promoting sustainable and eco-friendly products while supporting cleaner energy alternatives. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and contributes to a healthier and more sustainable future for everyone.”
In the study, the research team used copper (Cu), tin (Sn), and bimetallic CuSnx nanoparticles that were synthesized and evaluated as electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction using zero-gap membrane electrode assemblies.
“This dual metal system allows for a tunable approach to achieve desirable CO2 reduction products, especially ethanol and ethylene, under controlled conditions, particularly in membrane electrode assembly configurations,” Dauda added.
Dauda’s co-authors on the paper were LSU Chemical Engineering graduate students John Hendershot, Mustapha Bello, Junghyun Park, and Alvaro Loaiza Orduz; LSU Chemical Engineering faculty Anthony Engler and Craig Plaisance; researchers Orhan Kizilkaya and Phillip Sprunger from the LSU J. Bennett Johnston Sr. Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD); and Koffi Yao, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware.
Dauda’s research is conducted under the guidance of LSU Associate Vice President of Natural and Built Environments and Chemical Engineering Professor John Flake.
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