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Design and development of unconventional catalytic conversion processes using electrons, photons, and microorganisms


    Problem Statement

    Our long-term commitment to sustainability and a circular carbon economy involves unconventional catalytic conversion processes. We study various processes assisted by electrons, photons, or microorganisms to produce biofuels, chemicals, electricity, or treated water. For example, bio-electro-chemical systems, including microbial fuel cells (MFCs), electrolysis cells (MECs), and photo-assisted cells (PA-MECs), are promising technologies to simultaneously produce renewable energy and clean wastewater using active microorganisms as biocatalysts.

    Our work aims to synthesize multi-functional catalysts and reactors to enhance electrical conductivity, photo-efficiency, microbiological affinity, porosity, hydrophilicity, and surface area for carbonaceous electrodes. We work with materials such as graphene oxide, metallic nanoparticles, nitride and carbide basic materials, and MXenes.

    We consider new platform technologies to produce renewable biofuel and chemicals and treat wastewater using the nanotechnology and reaction engineering approach as an innovative combination to increase the productivity of these processes.

    EPB

    Goals

    • Develop and scale up electro-photo-bio-catalyst and -reactors
    • Propose novel processes to clean wastewater and produce electricity, chemicals, and bio-hydrogen
    • Model and simulate fuel cell performance
    • Use innovative catalysts (anode and cathode material) and reactor designs to improve fuel cell performance

    Related People

    Related Publications

    MXene-based electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction: advances, challenges, and perspectives

    by Abo Talas, Kolubah, khairova, Alqahtani, El-Hout, Alissa, El-Demellawi, Castaño, Mohamed
    Mater. Horizons Year: 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00905G

    Abstract

    The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) is a crucial step toward a sustainable carbon economy, enabling the conversion of greenhouse gases into valuable fuels and chemicals. Among the emerging materials for this transformation, two-dimensional (2D) MXenes comprising transition-metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides are notable due to their tunable surface chemistry and high conductivity. This review comprehensively analyzes recent advancements in MXene-based electrocatalysis for the CO2 reduction reaction (RR) and explores the unique electronic properties of MXenes that drive their catalytic performance. Composition, surface terminations, defect engineering, and interfacial dynamics dictate activity and selectivity and are analyzed to contextualize the structure–function correlations. This work discusses state-of-the-art strategies to enhance the performance of MXene-based electrocatalysts, including compositional modifications, heteroatom doping, and heterostructure integration. Mechanistic insight into the CO2RR is examined to pinpoint the advantages and challenges of MXenes in the overall reaction network. Finally, this work presents a forward-looking perspective, outlining challenges and emerging opportunities for MXenes in driving sustainable CO2 electrocatalytic conversion technology.

    Keywords

    HCE EPB