Abstract: 

Amid growing concerns about climate change and energy sustainability, the need to create potent catalysts for the sequestration and conversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals is more critical than ever. This work describes the successful synthesis and profound potential of high-performance nanofiber catalysts, integrating earth-abundant iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) as well as their alloy counterpart, FeCo, achieved through electrospinning and judicious thermal treatments. Systematic characterization using an array of advanced techniques, including SEM, TGA-DSC, ICP-MS, XRF, EDS, FTIR-ATR, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy, confirmed the integration and homogeneous distribution of Fe/Co elements in nanofibers and provided insight into their catalytic nuance. Impressively, the bimetallic FeCo nanofiber catalyst, thermally treated at 1050 °C, set a benchmark with an unparalleled CO2 conversion rate of 46.47% at atmospheric pressure and a consistent performance over a 55-hour testing period at 500 °C. Additionally, this catalyst exhibited prowess in producing high-value hydrocarbons, comprising 8.01% of total products and a significant 31.37% of C2+ species. Our work offers a comprehensive and layered understanding of nanofiber catalysts, delving into their transformations, compositions, and structures under different calcination temperatures. The central themes of metal-carbon interactions, the potential advantages of bimetallic synergies, and the importance of structural defects all converge to define the catalytic performance of these nanofibers. These revelations not only deepen our understanding but also set the stage for future endeavors in designing advanced nanofiber catalysts with bespoke properties tailored for specific applications.

Location:  The September meeting will be held at White Horse Winery in Hammonton, NJ.  It is conveniently located off both Route 322 and the Atlantic City Expressway.  Directions via Google Maps can be accessed by clicking this link.

The event will cost $30 per person for adult members (21+ years old), and $10 per person for active students. This price includes a flight of five wines; pizza will also be served at the event.

Please RSVP by 9/12 @ 5PM here: https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/enOK2j4a

Bio:  Dr. Ping Lu is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Rowan University.