Catalysis: Role and Challenges for a Sustainable Energy

摘要: After introducing the role of catalysis as pillar chemical industry to reach sustainability society, contribution discusses for energy one critical areas development respond societal needs and which further demonstrate link between catalysis, innovation sustainability. In particular, some aspects catalysts photo- electro-driven conversion carbon dioxide water are analyzed. PEM fuel cells, advanced anode electrocatalysts with improved performances reduced sensitivity poisoning by CO could be developed proper understanding nanostructure, three phase boundary metal particle-carbon substrate interaction. It is shown also that similar materials used addressing challenge converting back CO2 fuels. New results on electrocatalytic liquid fuels (isopropanol, in particular) reported it evidenced how perspective, combining these electrodes a nanostructured titania photoanode, possible realize photoelectrocatalytic devices have potential capture convert (long-chain alcohols hydrocarbons) using solar “artificial trees”.