LSU Chemistry Professor Secures DOE Funding to Advance Sustainable Chemical Processes

BATON ROUGE – Matthew Chambers, Assistant Professor in the LSU Department of Chemistry, has been awarded a significant grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to explore energy-efficient chemical processes that could greatly reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption in the petrochemical industry. His research focuses on using inexpensive and abundant metals, like cobalt, to produce vital chemicals with a lower environmental impact.

Turning carbon into essential products, such as fuels, plastics, and medicines, poses a major scientific challenge. Everyday items—from clothes and electronics to cleaning products—rely on carbon-based chemicals, underscoring the need for sustainable carbon sources. Carbon monoxide (CO) is crucial in connecting renewable carbon with the production of these goods. However, many CO-utilizing processes, like hydroformylation, are energy-intensive, highlighting the importance of improving their efficiency to cut carbon emissions.

The petrochemical industry, a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, relies heavily on these energy-intensive processes to manufacture vital products, including fuels and pharmaceuticals. Hydroformylation, a reaction that converts alkenes, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen into aldehydes, accounts for over 10 million metric tons of chemicals produced annually. These aldehydes serve as intermediates in the creation of various consumer goods, such as coatings, detergents, and adhesives.

While hydroformylation is essential to industry, it traditionally requires high temperatures and pressures, consuming significant energy. Although rhodium-based catalysts can help reduce some of these demands, they are expensive and scarce. In contrast, cobalt is a more abundant and affordable alternative, but it typically requires harsher conditions, limiting its appeal for energy-efficient applications.

With his DOE-funded project, Chambers aims to transform this process by developing a novel cobalt(II) hydroformylation precatalyst. Initial studies suggest that this new catalyst can operate under milder conditions, matching rhodium's performance while avoiding the decomposition issues associated with previous cobalt-based systems.

“Our reliance on energy-intensive chemical processes is unsustainable in an era where reducing carbon emissions is essential,” Chambers stated. “This research has the potential to lower the environmental impact of one of the largest industrial chemical reactions by utilizing cheaper, more accessible metals.”

Chambers' project will focus on uncovering the mechanisms behind the new cobalt(II) catalyst. Using advanced spectroscopic techniques, his team will analyze the structure of the active catalyst during hydroformylation and identify key factors that influence its reactivity and stability. These insights could pave the way for more efficient processes not only for cobalt but also for other base metals with similar catalytic potential.

Chambers' achievement is particularly noteworthy as he is one of only 91 early career scientists awarded funding through the DOE’s Early Career Research Program (ECRP), which supports various research areas, including artificial intelligence and fusion energy. The $875,000 grant is the only award given in Louisiana and aims to foster the next generation of STEM leaders while strengthening America's position as a leader in global science and innovation.