Liquid Light and Princeton University will develop an electrochemical process for syngas evolution that uses carbon dioxide and water as the feedstocks. Syngas evolved from the system will then be converted to JP-8 via existing Fischer-Tropsch systems. The syngas evolution process will be based on heterocyclic catalysts originally discovered at Princeton University. Research in Phase I will focus on identification of materials for optimal system performance and modeling of scaled systems which are necessary for successful Phase II research.
Benefit: Once commercialized, the technology will have direct benefits to the United States in the form of increased energy security and reduced emissions of carbon dioxide. A secondary benefit will be the ability to store intermittent renewable energy, such as wind or solar, as a liquid fuel.
Keywords: Syngas, electrochemistry, catalysis, energy security, JP-8, carbon dioxide