E-methanol and beyond: Identifying the activity and stability windows for the selective electrochemical generation of methanol and methanol upgrading

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Ulf-Peter Apfel; Professor Dr. Bastian Mei
• Subject Area: Technical Chemistry
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 577670200

E-METHANOL AND BEYONDaims to develop new electrochemical approaches for the sustainable production and further processing of methanol. Over a period of three years, the project will investigate how the selective electrochemical reduction of CO₂ (eCO₂R) to methanol, the electrochemical methane oxidation (eMethOx), and the conversion of methanol to formaldehyde (MeOH-to-FA) can be implemented. The project focuses on the development of active catalysts, their integration into gas diffusion electrodes and the subsequent optimisation of process control. The combined examination of these fundamental aspects is considered essential for the development of active and selective catalysts and thus sustainable processes. New electrocatalysts based on copper and pentlandite are to be developed for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to methanol in order to improve the selectivity and efficiency of methanol formation. In parallel, electrochemical methane oxidation is being investigated, in which metal oxide-based catalysts and boron-doped diamond electrodes in particular are used to convert methane into methanol or other valuable oxygen compounds in a targeted manner. The electrochemical oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde is also being researched. In this context, innovative gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) are being developed to enable anhydrous conversion and thus increase the economic efficiency of the process. Another central component of the project is the combination of these electrochemical processes in a coupled electrolysis system in order to maximise energy efficiency and resource utilisation. This requires not only the synthesis and characterisation of new catalysts, but also the optimisation of modern cell architectures such as zero-gap cells and flow cells. For further process optimisation, in-situ and operando analyses are also used to understand and specifically adapt the behaviour of the materials under real operating conditions. The project addresses major challenges in electrochemical CO₂ conversion and methane oxidation. By developing selective and stable catalysts as well as optimized reactor designs, the project aims to create scalable solutions for sustainable chemical production and support the transition to CO₂-neutral value chains.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants