GRK 2943:  SPECtroscopic Tools for challenging REduction reactions - Catalytic coupling of CO2 (SPECTRE)

• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry ; Molecular Chemistry
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 507189291

Global warming is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Sustainable technologies to avoid and reduce the evolution of the greenhouse gas CO2 are urgently required. Selective conversion of CO2 into value-added multi-carbon compounds by reductive homocoupling offers the opportunity to convert CO2 into chemical energy carriers and products with a carbon neutral footprint. The reductive coupling of CO2 to oxalate, represents the first yet underdeveloped step of a reaction cascade yielding C2+ products. In this research training group, new organometallic, electrocatalytic and photocatalytic pathways for the formation of oxalate from CO2 will be developed. Spectroscopic studies are of utmost importance for modern catalysis research in general and for the approach proposed here in particular. They provide important information about the operating processes and are therefore essential for their optimisation. Operando methods allow the observation of reactive and deactivated catalytic species, which, in combination with modelling, enables the elucidation of pathways and mechanisms and allow for an insight-driven optimisation of catalytic systems. Recent developments in homogeneous catalysis as well as inclusion of aspiring disciplines such as electro- or photocatalysis place new demands on the experimental capabilities concerning time- and spatial-resolution of applied spectroscopic methods. Here we see great potential for the application and the further and new development of coupled spectroscopic techniques. Accordingly, we aim to harness new spectroscopic, chemometric and quantum chemical tools for the development and understanding of the challenging model reaction of the catalytic formation of oxalate from CO2, which will benefit modern catalysis research in general. The PhD fellows will benefit from an interdisciplinary scientific consortium with experimental and theoretical expertise to develop innovative chemical approaches in a challenging scientific context at the interface between catalysis, molecular chemistry, physical and theoretical chemistry, physics, and mathematics. The training program offers an excellent multidisciplinary education enhanced by the synergetic interaction of the University of Rostock and the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis. The focus of the training is on the individual qualification of the students through a structured, joint educational and personal development program in a diverse, constructive scientific environment. Special measures include both, short- and medium-term personnel exchange modules within and beyond the participating laboratories, as well as regular seminars and the enriching engagement of external visiting scientists.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Rostock
• Participating Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e. V. an der Universität Rostock
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Ralf Ludwig
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Matthias Beller; Professor Dr. Torsten Beweries; Dr. Olga Bokareva; Professorin Dr. Angelika Brückner; Dr. Milica Feldt; Professor Dr. Robert Francke; Professor Dr. Stefan Lochbrunner; Professor Dr. Klaus Neymeyr; Dr. Jola Pospech; Professor Dr. Axel Schulz; Professorin Dr. Jennifer Strunk