What happens when plasma meets catalysts? At this intersection, new possibilities emerge for tackling one of the most pressing environmental challenges: methane emissions.
Nobel Prize winner Wolfgang Pauli once remarked, “God made the bulk, the surface was invented by the devil,” pointing out how complex surfaces can be. And yet surfaces are where much of the real action happens. From everyday phenomena like the sense of touch to advanced chemical processes, surface interactions are fundamental to how materials behave and react. Generations of scientists have therefore taken on the challenge of uncovering the atomic-scale structure of surfaces and the processes that govern their behaviour.
Surfaces are also central to CANMILK. The EU-funded project explores a novel approach to methane abatement that combines the reactivity of non-thermal plasmas with catalytic materials. In this process, plasma-generated species such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ozone (O3) interact with catalytic surfaces, triggering chemical reactions that convert methane into less harmful CO2 and reducing the impact on the climate.
The role of IST
Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) contributes to the project with two complementary research units: the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion (IPFN) and the Centre for Structural Chemistry (CQE). These teams bring expertise in plasma physics and catalysis to better understand how these processes work at a fundamental level.
Researchers at IST develop computational models to identify the main chemical pathways occurring on catalytic surfaces leading to the desired products. The surfaces are studied using first-principles calculations to determine their reactivity. At the same time, new catalytic materials are synthesized and tested experimentally under controlled conditions. By combining modelling and experiments, the team can uncover the underlying elementary mechanisms and validate the models. This integrated approach is essential for designing efficient reactors and developing improved catalysts that are both effective and economically viable.
Beyond CANMILK
The research at IST on plasma-surface interactions extends well beyond CANMILK, with the teams exploring a variety of applications linked to the energy transition and future technologies. These include plasma-assisted conversion of carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels, helping to store renewable energy in chemical form. Another promising area is in-situ resource utilization for space exploration, where plasma technologies could enable the production of fuel, oxygen, fertilisers, and other essential resources directly from local materials on other planets.
By advancing the understanding of how plasma and surfaces interact, researchers at IST are contributing to cleaner technologies and opening new pathways toward a more sustainable future, on Earth and beyond.