The goals of the project is to improve efficiency and selectivity of the conversion of CO2 into added value chemical and fuels using electrochemical system with 3D nanoporous  catalysts 

- Theoretical results:
In this work, we have developed a facile method to coelectrodeposit CuAg alloys, resulting from the inhibition of nucleation through the presence of an additive DAT. The CuAg exhibits 3D nanoporous struture with high active surface area, and tunable mophology.
Flow electrolyzer experiments showed that the CuAg wire samples exhibit much higher activity and selectivity for the electroreduction CO2 to C2 products (C2H4 and C2H5OH) in comparison to the CuAg poly. The CuAg wire exhibits the best CO2 electroreduction performance, with the Faradaic efficiency for C2H4 and C2H5OH production reaching nearly 60 and 25%, respectively, at a cathode potential of just −0.7 V vs RHE and a total current density of ∼− 300 mA/cm2. Such high levels of selectivity at high activity and low applied potential are the highest reported to date.
- Applied results:
The result of this research which is a catalyst with higher efficiency and selectivity of CO2 reduction is a highly applicable. The catalyst solve the key issue for industrialization and commercialization of CO2 reduction. In this project, the study is not only carried out at a laboratory scale in the basic testing system, but also is tested and optimized under the condition of a flow cell. The reaction condition in a continuous electrolytic battery is one that simulates industrial conditions. On an industrial scale, the electrolytic battery may be somewhat larger in size, but it will essentially be a series of stacking flow cells.

- This study developed a facile method of manufacturing nano 3D porous materials with a simple 1-step process by electroplating system.
- This study has introduced a new type of catalyst - 3D catalyst, in which not only the surface (2D) but the depth, in other words, the entire block of material will be able to contact and participate into the electrochemical reaction. Therefore, the amount of material that must be used as a catalyst / electrode is reduced but the  activity is increased.
- CuAg-wire catalyst in this study is the most efficient catalyst to create C2H4 to the best of our knowledge. This catalyst and its products have potential applications in many other electrochemical reactions.

Scientific papers in referred journals (list):
1. Hoang, T. T. H.; Verma, S.; Ma, S. C.; Fister, T. T.; Timoshenko, J.; Frenkel, A. I.; Kenis, P. J. A.; Gewirth, A. A., Nanoporous Copper–Silver Alloys by Additive-Controlled Electrodeposition for the Selective Electroreduction of CO2 to Ethylene and Ethanol. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2018, 140, 5791. Chỉ số ảnh hưởng (Impact factor)=14.695
2. Hoàng Thị Hương Thảo, Trương Bình Giang, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Bích, Dương Tuấn Hưng, Vũ Đức Lợi, Xác định online các khí CO, CO2, H2 bằng phương pháp sắc ký khí detector dẫn nhiệt TCD. Tạp chí phân tích Hóa, Lý và Sinh học. 2020, 3, 25. (Accepted)
Other products (if applicable):
- Supervised a Master’s student: Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Bích – Chemical Engineering – Hanoi University of Industry. Master’s thesis: Developing Cu based catalysts for electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction. Defended on 28/06/2020.
- Principal Investigator is hired as permanent employee at Analytical laboratory - Institute of Chemistry - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
- Principal Investigator is also PI of other projects related to electrocatalyst, including 01 Nafosted project and 01 Institute of Chemistry’s project.
- Attended 2 international conferences:
1. “International symposium of analytical sciences”, in Hà Nội, 2017 with an invited oral presentation: “Monitoring activity and selectivity of CO2 electroreduction catalysts by using electrochemical flow cell and online GC analysis”
2. “International Scientific Conference on Chemistry for Sustainable Development”, in Hà Nội, 2018 with an invited oral presentation: “Nanoporous materials by additive controlled electrodeposition for the highly active and selective electrochemical conversion of O2 and CO2”