[SEMINAR] Manganese-based molecular catalysts for CO2 electroreduction

Title: Manganese-based molecular catalysts for CO2 electroreduction

Speaker: Federico Franco

From: University of Trieste, Italy

Abstract:

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (CO₂RR) into value-added products such as CO and formate (HCOO⁻) represents a promising strategy for a sustainable production of value-added chemicals.  Among the different classes of catalysts, molecular electrocatalysts represent powerful platforms for mechanistic studies in CO2RR, owing to their well-defined coordination environment and modular ligand frameworks. In particular, Mn complexes bearing polypyridyl or N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have shown remarkable activity and selectivity for the CO₂-to-CO conversion under various electrochemical conditions.This seminar will explore how these molecular systems offer a unique opportunity to understand the key factors governing catalytic performance and product selectivity in CO₂RR at a fundamental level.

Through selected case studies, we will illustrate how ligand modification affects the reactivity of the active metal center, steering the catalytic pathway toward either CO or HCOO⁻ production. Through the combination of electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical (SEC) techniques, we will provide an in-depth mechanistic investigation of this class of CO2RR molecular catalysts, based on the experimental determination of key intermediate species involved in the reaction pathways.

In addition to homogeneous systems, some recent examples of heterogenized molecular Mn-based catalysts onto functionalized electrode surfaces will be also discussed, thus enabling their implementation in aqueous CO2RR electrolyzers. These hybrid platforms maintain molecular-level control while improving catalyst stability and integration into electrochemical devices

Speaker's biography

Federico Franco has broad research experience in the fields of electrochemistry and electrocatalysis, spanning from homogeneous molecular systems to hybrid and nanostructured materials. In particular, his areas of expertise cover the investigation of several energy conversion processes for sustainable electrocatalysis, including the CO2 electroreduction reaction, water splitting, ammonia electrosynthesis and organic transformations. 

After receiving a PhD in Chemical and Material Sciences at the University of Turin in 2016 (group of Prof. Roberto Gobetto), Federico joined the group of Prof. Julio Lloret-Fillol at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) (Tarragona, Spain), where we worked as a postdoctoral researcher from 2016 to 2019. In the period 2019-2021, he worked as postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Beatriz Roldan Cuenya (Department of Interface Science) at the at the Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society of Berlin (Germany).  Afterwards, in 2021 he returned to ICIQ in the group of Prof. Emilio Palomares as a Juan de la Cierva Incorporación researcher and worked at ICIQ until 2023. In 2023, he started his independent career as assistant professor at the University of Trieste (Italy), focusing on the development of molecular and nanostructured systems for photo-electrocatalytic conversion of small molecules.