Dr. Nicolas Kaeffer - Organometallic Electrocatalysis

We target:

• The electrocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to fuels or base chemicals, but also as a building block to increase molecular complexity;
• The electrocatalytic synthesis of base and fine chemicals, with a special emphasis on reductive (half-)reactions.

From understanding...

In our approach, we shape the molecular design of organometallic complexes towards the desired electrocatalytic activity. To improve our organometallic electrocatalysts, we put the electrocatalytic activity in perspective with a molecular-level understanding of the mechanisms. In our research, we rely on organometallic synthesis, electrochemical/-catalytic studies, spectroscopic methods including in situ/operando spectroscopies (spectro-electrochemistry) and computational techniques.

A key question to be addressed in our work is how molecular mechanisms overlap – or diverge – between chemical and electrochemical organometallic catalysis. This endeavor finds fertile synergies with the organometallic catalysis developed in the Molecular Catalysis department and benefits from a rich scientific environment at the institute in fields as electrocatalysis or advanced spectroscopies.

... to applications

While a fundamental understanding of the catalysis is essential, these electrosynthetic routes should be considered on a system level in the framework of application. To ensure overall sustainability, we work on balancing the reductive half-reactions of interest with sustainable counter-reactions. We also investigate the integration of molecularly-defined catalysts into devices so as to issue feasible electrosynthetic processes. In that approach, the group has strong synergies with research in process engineering and supported catalysis developed at the department and institute.