Unconventional activation of structured catalysts supported on SiC foams

Macroscopic cellular foams, for example ceramic silicon carbide (Sic), are compact technologies that are easy to handle and operate with low-energy demand. They are suitable candidates for developing high-throughput catalytic processes with less energy penalties (e.g. in comparison to packed-beds) and high efficiency (e.g. in comparison to monoliths) due to their intricate open cell structures. Appropriate characterisation and surface modification are needed to pave the way for their catalytic applications in practical settings.

This project focuses on the development of structured catalysts based on SiC foams that can be functionalized for microwave-assisted catalysis and photocatalysis. SiC is a microwave (MW)-adsorbing material suitable for MW-enhanced catalytic upgrading of bio-oil vapours or liquid phase synthesis under continuous-flow. SiC is also a p-type semiconductor that can be functionalized with n-type semiconductors to create p/n-heterojunctions for highly efficient photocatalytic applications.

The project will be split into following tasks to address the controlled functionalization of SiC foam substrates (foams and pellets) with appropriate coatings (zeolites or n-semiconductors), the characterisation and evaluation of developed materials and the design/development of continuous-flow catalytic processes that can be activated by microwave or UV/Vis lights.