Nuclear radiation catalyzed chemistry

In this project we want to investigate nuclear radiation catalyzed chemical processes towards efficient carbon capture and the synthesis of high value chemicals. The project is motivated by the context of serious environmental challenges we are facing, in particular the need for reducing the carbon impact of our energy generation by carbon capture technologies and mitigation of environmental pollution with plastic material, in conjunction with the commitment to continue exploitation of nuclear energy to reduce our impact on climate. The objective of our project is investigating nuclear radiation as an exploitable energy source to catalyze chemical processes, as a basis for efficient carbon capture technologies and as a means of conversion or synthesis of high value chemicals starting from abundant and low value materials, as glycol, plastic, etc. In the project we will perform irradiations of different encapsulated target material samples (e.g. CO2, plastics, biomass, hydrocarbons, etc.) in the Jožef Stefan Institute TRIGA research reactor with neutron and gamma radiation and in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) using a variable high-energy electron beam. Post-irradiation analyses (reactor irradiated samples) and in-situ analyses (TEM irradiated samples) will be performed in order to observe and quantify radiation-induced catalysis effects. The experimental results will be correlated to predictions obtained on the basis of Monte Carlo and microkinetic modelling. Relations will be established between our observations at a small scale and larger-scale scenarios involving nuclear power plants, spent nuclear fuel facilities, and future fusion nuclear reactors, valorizing nuclear radiation as a useful energy source for power/chemical co-generation applications of the future.