From CO₂ to methane: the study by the Politecnico di Milano conquers the cover of ACS Catalysis
A new study by the Department of Energy of the Politecnico di Milano has been published on the cover of ACS Catalysis, one of the most authoritative international journals in the field of catalysis. The research addresses one of the key challenges of the energy transition: the conversion of carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methane through nickel nanoparticles.
Understanding the role of the shape and size of nanoparticles allows us to design more efficient catalysts. This is a fundamental step forward towards the use of CO₂ as a resource.
Gabriele Spanò, first author and PhD candidate, Department of Energy
The study, entitled Deciphering Size and Shape Effects on the Structure Sensitivity of the CO₂ Methanation Reaction on Nickel, was conducted in the Laboratory of Catalysis and Catalytic Processes (LCCP) by Gabriele Spanò, Matteo Ferri, Raffaele Cheula, Matteo Monai, Bert M. Weckhuysen and Matteo Maestri. Combining advanced atomistic simulations and experimental data, the researchers demonstrated how the morphological properties of nanoparticles influence the reaction rate, offering new insights for the design of more performing catalysts.
This work is a concrete example of how the combination of experimental data and advanced modeling can tackle complex problems with high application impact.
Matteo Maestri, Professor, Department of Energy
G. Spanò, M. Ferri, R. Cheula, M. Monai, B. M. Weckhuysen, M. Maestri
Deciphering Size and Shape Effects on the Structure Sensitivity of the CO2 Methanation Reaction on Nickel
ACS Catalysis 2025 15 (10), 8194-8203