Advancing Catalyst Development in Non-Thermal Plasma CO₂ Hydrogenation for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets by 2050 will require sustained production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs). E-fuels represent a viable approach for decarbonizing the aviation sector, using renewable electricity, green H₂, and CO₂ to synthesize sustainable fuels. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) stands out for its potential to facilitate unfavorable reactions at milder conditions by energizing electrons. This makes it a promising alternative, considering its flexibility to adapt to the variable and unsteady nature of renewable electricity generation. However, the success of NTP CO₂ hydrogenation relies on designing catalysts to tune reactions toward target hydrocarbons. Our work focuses on enhancing catalyst efficacy for NTP CO₂ hydrogenation by modifying catalysts for SAF precursors synthesis. To achieve this, we employ a point-source Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) in a packed-bed Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) cell for operando surface species measurements. Additionally, a tubular DBD reactor is used to validate the DRIFTS findings. NTP CO₂ hydrogenation over modified metal oxides has already shown activity in CO and CH_x formation on catalyst surfaces at lower temperatures. Further modification is expected to enhance C-C coupling towards longer-chain hydrocarbons. This work aims to improve understanding of basic chemistry and catalyst-NTP synergy to develop novel catalysts with improved conversion and hydrocarbon selectivity.