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.
Like us on Facebook (@lsuengineering) or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram (@lsuengineering).
###
Contact: Joshua Duplechain
Director of Communications
225-578-5706
josh@lsu.edu
Latest College of Engineering News
- LSU Industrial Engineering Junior Interns With Textron SystemsBATON ROUGE, LA - LSU Industrial Engineering junior Abby Lobell enjoys analyzing the bigger picture--how systems, people, and processes interact--and finding innovative ways to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. In fact, she enjoys it so much that she spent her summer gaining experience in these areas as part of an internship with Textron Systems in New Orleans.
- Meet the LSU Cybersecurity Student Whose Work CISA Calls “Staggering”Last week, LSU cybersecurity graduate student George Buras from Baton Rouge received a shoutout from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, for the “Staggering!” impact his work, and the work of other interns, is having on the nation. Here, Buras explains what he’s working on, and why.
- LSU BAE Professor, Team Work to Create Eyedrop for Retinoblastoma TreatmentBATON ROUGE, LA - Retinoblastoma is a rare, malignant tumor in the retina that mostly affects children under the age of 5 and can lead to blindness or even death if not treated. Since many patients are unable to access current treatments that include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, LSU Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Qi Cai and a team of LSU researchers are creating an eyedrop gel that will be more accessible to retinoblastoma patients, thanks to a $75,000 Provost Award grant.
- LSU Civil, Environmental Engineering Professor Assesses Impact of Sulphur Mines Salt Dome Cavern Collapse on Well WaterNovember 18, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - The Gulf Coast is home to more than 500 salt domes, and at least 200 of those are located in Louisiana. While salt domes and their caverns can be beneficial, such as being used to hold petroleum reserves, they can also be a possible hazard should the caverns collapse. The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR) currently has its eye on two caverns in Sulphur, La., and have awarded a $156,602 grant to LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Frank Tsai to assess the impact a collapse would have on well water in the area.
- LSU, PNNL Research Team Study Microplastics in the AtmosphereNovember 14, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - Microplastics are sub-millimeter-sized plastic fragments, similar to or smaller than the thickness of a human hair, that present a relatively new and increasingly prevalent type of environmental pollutant. In fact, they have been widely detected in the air we breathe and at altitudes where clouds form.
- LSU Engineering, Chance Maritime Collaborate on Uncrewed Underwater ResearchNovember 13, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - In an old quarry near Lafayette, La., an uncrewed boat is dropping a remote-controlled robot down to the bottom of a lakebed before retrieving it and returning to shore. If a passerby stumbled upon this scene, he or she might think it was something out of a spy movie. Instead, it's a cutting-edge project that shows how advanced robotic systems can help monitor and protect marine environments, as well as inspect and maintain offshore infrastructure.