PhD Electrochemical CO2 Capture and Conversion

This project aims to develop novel catalysts and reaction systems for energy-efficient electrochemical conversion of captured CO2 into liquid fuels.

Electrochemical Conversion of Captured CO₂ into Liquid Fuels

Renewable liquid fuels offer a promising route to decarbonise the energy sector and facilitate large-scale hydrogen utilisation. Among them, methanol and ethanol stand out due to their high energy density, ease of storage and transport, and broad applicability as chemical feedstocks. However, conventional thermochemical approaches to CO₂ conversion into alcohols are energy-intensive and economically prohibitive, requiring high temperatures, elevated pressures, and sophisticated catalytic systems.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR) presents a more sustainable and scalable alternative. This process operates under ambient conditions, utilises water as a hydrogen source, and is powered by renewable electricity. Recent advances in electrocatalyst design – enabled by operando spectroscopic techniques, theoretical modelling, and precise synthetic control – have significantly improved the activity, selectivity, and stability of CO₂-to-alcohol conversion. Key catalyst systems include Cu-based materials,[ 3 - 11] non-Cu metals and alloys,[ 12 - 16] and molecular catalysts such as cobalt phthalocyanines.[ 17 - 20]

Despite these scientific breakthroughs, most current electrolysis systems rely on purified CO₂ gas as feedstock, necessitating costly and energy-intensive capture, purification, and compression processes. Furthermore, high-efficiency alcohol production has primarily been demonstrated at laboratory scale using small-area gas-diffusion electrodes (<5 cm²). Scaling up these systems introduces significant engineering challenges, including mass transport limitations, long-term catalyst durability, and gas-liquid interface management.

To overcome these limitations, this project aims to develop a next-generation electrolysis platform that integrates CO₂ capture and conversion in a single, streamlined process. Unlike conventional gas-fed electrolysers, this approach directly utilises chemisorbed CO₂ from post-capture solutions, eliminating the need for thermal regeneration, CO₂ dehydration, and gas compression.[ 21 - 23] This integration offers substantial opportunities for reducing both capital and operating costs while improving process efficiency.

The overarching goal of this project is to enable efficient and selective electrochemical production of alcohols from captured CO₂ at an industrially relevant scale (electrode area ≥100 cm²). To achieve this, the project will focus on:

• Designing and synthesising robust, scalable electrocatalysts – including single-atom catalysts and molecular complexes – with tailored active sites for alcohol formation.

• Engineering reactors that support stable operation under reactive capture conditions.

• Unravelling reaction mechanisms and catalyst structure-performance relationships using advanced characterisation techniques and computational tools.

• Collaborating with national and international partners to validate system performance and accelerate technology translation.

This multidisciplinary effort spans nanomaterials synthesis, inorganic and electrochemistry, analytical science, and reactor engineering. The outcomes of this research will be disseminated through high-impact scientific journals and will contribute to the development of practical, low-emission routes for renewable fuel production.

Reference notes can be found here .

Funding: $37,440 per annum (2025 rate) indexed annually. For a PhD candidate, the living allowance scholarship is for 3.5 years, and the tuition fee scholarship is for 3.5 years. Scholarships also include up to $1,500 relocation allowance. The scholarship will be offered to the successful candidate subject to the grant/funding being fully established.

Supervisor: Dr Yong Zhao

Available to: Domestic students

PhD

Prior research experience in electrochemistry, ion/gas separation membranes, carbon materials, or related areas is preferred.

Preference will be given to applicants who have published high-impact research papers as first or co-first author.

The applicant will need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria  for admission.

Interested applicants should send an email expressing their interest along with scanned copies of their academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of their research interests and a proposal that specifically links them to the research project.

Please send the email expressing interest to yong.zhao@newcastle.edu.au by 5pm on 30 September 2025.