REimagining Sonocatalytic CO2 REduction: Enhancing Organic Synthesis by Optimizing Cavitation Collapse

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are a major environmental concern. The reduction of CO2 to valuable chemicals is crucial for closing the carbon cycle in chemical synthesis and promoting a green circular economy. Sonocatalytic processes, which use ultrasound-induced cavitation bubbles in a liquid with heterogeneous catalyst to trigger chemical reactions, hold great potential for converting CO2 into high-value organic products. However, the presence of CO2 itself hinders reaction rates by dampening the bubble collapse, limiting the primary conversion to carbon monoxide (CO). This also reduces the thermal energy transferred from the bubble to the catalyst, impeding the further reaction of CO to more reduced organic compounds. The RESCORE project aims to enhance the sonochemical reduction of CO2 to CO by increasing the liquid hydrostatic pressure to improve bubble collapse and overcome the limited CO2 conversion rates. Additionally, RESCORE seeks to identify a suitable catalyst for sonocatalytic CO2-based organic synthesis, focusing on selectivity towards desired products and enhancement of cavitation activity. This approach ensures that the catalyst benefits from higher thermal energy due to improved collapse and from increased liquid static pressure due to reactions with moles reduction. Furthermore, the overall efficiency of the sonoreactor will be assessed through process-specific output measurements. Beyond academic and research advancements, RESCORE is designed to synergistically combine the expertise at the host institution (UniTo) with that of the researcher. The fellowship will enhance the researcher's skills across a broad spectrum, providing improved career perspectives, international and interdisciplinary experience, and the opportunity to make a significant impact. Simultaneously, UniTo will gain novel research knowledge, produce valuable research output, and enhance its research capacity and global attractiveness.