Date of Publication

2024

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

Subject Categories

Chemical Engineering | Engineering

College

Gokongwei College of Engineering

Department/Unit

Chemical Engineering

Thesis Advisor

Michael Angelo B. Promentilla

Defense Panel Chair

Joseph R. Ortenero

Defense Panel Member

Arnel B. Beltran

Allan N. Soriano

Abstract/Summary

Geopolymers have become an emerging substrate for electrochemical applications due to their good adsorption capacity, promising chemical stability, and inherent ionic conductivity attributed to the presence of alkali pore solutions. In addition, its electrical conductivity can be further developed by introducing carbon fillers such as Graphene, which will create a conductive network within the matrix. Among possible electrochemical applications, Electrochemical Carbon dioxide Reduction Reaction (ECO2RR) to Carbon monoxide has earned vast attention from the scientific community recently as carbon monoxide can be used directly as a feedstock for fuel production while having carbon dioxide as its waste product, thus forming a sustainable carbon circular economy. However, this pathway requires an efficient electrocatalyst with high selectivity, promising electrochemical activity, and excellent stability while maintaining the economic balance between its price and the cost of its main reaction product. In this study, CoPc is anchored in Graphene’s surface, creating the Graphene-Cobalt Phthalocyanine (CoPc), which is incorporated into Perlite-Metakaolin-based geopolymer to improve the latter’s electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity. The geopolymer matrix acted as a conductive carrier with good CO2 adsorption capacity to fabricate a relatively low-cost working electrode suitable for ECO2RR to CO. The effect of precursor composition, activator-to-precursor ratio, curing temperature, and Graphene loading introduced to the electrical conductivity of the geopolymer is investigated. Furthermore, the electrochemical performance of the fabricated Geopolymer Graphene-CoPc composite is also evaluated relative to pure Graphene-CoPc and CoPc. Results show that when it comes to gas production, pure Graphene-CoPc yields 4.7% higher CO production than geopolymer graphene-CoPc; however, the former exhibits higher total charge, resulting in lower Faradaic efficiency (FE). On the other hand, the (FE) CO of Geopolymer Graphene-CoPc reached 96.26%, outranking Graphene-CoPc and pristine CoPc with an FE (CO) of 69.88% and 72.42%, respectively.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Cobalt compounds; Phthalocyanines

Upload Full Text

wf_yes

Embargo Period

4-19-2024

Download

Share

COinS