EDLCO2

EDLCO2 proposes a breakthrough in the conversion of CO₂ and green hydrogen (H₂) to methanol through the development of electrically addressable catalysts. By controlling the electrical double layer (EDL) at the catalyst surface, the reaction mechanism and rate can be tuned for enhanced selectivity and efficiency. The project will design nanomesh catalyst beds with high surface area and porosity, enabling industrially relevant catalyst loadings and superior performance compared to conventional reactors. Two methods for catalyst polarisation will be tested: external electric fields and direct electrical addressing using nanomesh electrodes. These approaches aim to increase methanol productivity by a factor of 2–5, with prospects for further optimisation.

Within the EDLCO2 project, the BECHEM group at imec is responsible for leading the fabrication of nanomesh electrodes, coordinating project activities, developing scalable processes for thick and highly porous nanomesh scaffolds, and integrating electrical control into catalyst beds while characterising the electrical double layer properties. Meanwhile, the COCOON group at UGent oversees the functionalisation of catalyst surfaces and the deposition of thin films, applying atomic layer deposition to produce conformal coatings of metals and oxides on nanomesh supports in order to optimise catalyst activity and selectivity for methanol synthesis. Finally, the CSCE at KULeuven takes charge of catalyst testing and reactor integration, adapting pressurised plug flow reactors for mesh-based catalysts and benchmarking their performance against current powder catalysts, thereby advancing the scalability and industrial relevance of the reactor systems. 

By enabling a breakthrough in the efficient conversion of CO₂ and green hydrogen to methanol, the anticipated impact is substantial: the technology could help avoid between 1.9 and 5.2 tons of CO₂ emissions per ton of methanol produced, translating to a potential reduction of 480 to 1,300 million tons of CO₂ for a projected e-methanol market of 250 million tons per year by 2050. Economically, the added value of EDL implementation is estimated at approximately €6.25 billion per year, as e-methanol is expected to become cost-competitive with fossil methanol under the project’s targeted conditions. These advances not only drive Flanders toward its climate neutrality goals but also reinforce its status as a leading industrial and chemical hub in Europe.