Denmark – Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) – Purchase of 1 microcalorimeter system for advanced research on CO₂ adsorption, reduction, and related catalytic and materials processes

The Department of Chemistry and the CORC Center at Aarhus University has a strong international profile in the field of CO₂ adsorption, catalysis, and reduction mechanisms, where accurate thermodynamic and kinetic measurements are vital for scientific advancement. Modern global research places increasing emphasis on designing materials and catalysts capable of efficiently capturing and converting CO₂, making it critical to resolve minute changes in heat flow and to maintain precise experimental control. To optimize and advance CO₂ capture, storage, and catalytic conversion, it is essential to employ advanced isothermal nanocalorimetry. This technique provides detailed insight into the thermodynamics of CO₂ adsorption and binding to functional materials, including metal-organic frameworks and hybrid catalysts. It also enables precise enthalpy measurements for individual mechanistic steps in CO₂ electroreduction on metal or molecular catalyst surfaces; these steps often involve subtle and overlapping thermal events. Furthermore, the study of proton-coupled electron transfer processes and intermediate formation in electrochemical CO₂ reduction benefits greatly from the ability to conduct parallel, multi-channel screening, which enables comparative analysis of molecular and heterogeneous catalyst candidates. Quantification of transient heat signatures, as demonstrated in recent studies on CO₂ chemisorption and dynamic gas-solid interactions, is crucial for differentiating reaction pathways and evaluating catalytic efficiency. In summary, an instrument capable of nanocalorimetric detection, specifically at the level of less than 100 nW, is essential to reliably detect the faint heat signals accompanying CO₂ binding, reduction, and catalyst activation. Such sensitivity must be supported by ultra-high thermal stability, on the order of one millionth of a degree Celsius, over the extended time frames required for the study of long-lived reactions. It is equally critical to enable comparisons among samples by analyzing them simultaneously. Finally, the ability to conduct precise titration and multi-phase experiments is fundamental, that is why the instrument should be equipped with an automated liquid and gas sample handling to allow for the controlled addition of CO₂, co-reactants, or electrolytes at defined intervals, which is indispensable for mechanistic, stepwise studies under real catalytic conditions. No other commercially available microcalorimeter offers the unique combination of nanowatt sensitivity, modular throughput through multi-channel parallel operation, broad temperature range, and configurational flexibility that is found in the TAM IV.