22
Sep 2026
Chemical Engineering Seminar
Electrons, Kinetics, and Entropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of Electrified Gas Conversion Using Plasma
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Abstract
Plasma-based gas conversion broadly falls into two main categories: (i) low-temperature (< 1000 K) transformation of gases into value-added chemicals, such as C2 and C3 products from CH4, CH3OH from CO2, and NH3 from N2/H2, for direct use in the chemical industry, and (ii) high-temperature (> 1000 K) decomposition of gases into smaller molecules or atoms, such as CO2 into CO/O2, CH4 into C(s)/H2, and NH3 into N2/H2, which typically requires further processing (e.g., Fischer-Tropsch or methanol synthesis).
The first category primarily involves plasma catalysis, combining plasma reactors with catalysts at elevated gas temperatures (400–800 K). In contrast, the second category is mostly driven by non-equilibrium "warm" discharges, operating at 1000–7000 K and dominated by thermal reactions rather than electron-induced reactions.
These observations raise two fundamental questions. (i) How does gas temperature affect reaction kinetics in non-equilibrium plasma processes? (ii) If thermal effects appear dominant, does plasma still offer unique thermodynamic advantages, or is it simply an efficient heat source? Understanding how temperature, reaction dynamics, and energy flow (including factors such as entropy) interact in plasma systems can help us design better and more efficient chemical processes.
Biography
Dr. Ramses Snoeckx is an interdisciplinary researcher developing sustainable solutions for the electrification and decarbonization of industrial processes at the interface of chemistry, physics, and engineering. He has been leading projects in the field of energy and environmental science at institutions such as KAUST and the ETH Domain, and has held visiting positions at University College London and Seoul National University. Currently, he serves as a Scientist and Project Leader at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology.
Dr. Snoeckx is a pioneer in the non-equilibrium chemical kinetics and thermodynamics of electrically sustained reactive flows. By combining experiments and modeling, his research advances the underlying reactions of plasma processes for green applications. He received his PhD in Chemistry (2017) summa cum laude with the congratulations of the examination committee from the University of Antwerp and has written the reference work on plasma technology for CO2 conversion.
In recognition of his early-career achievements in upcycling greenhouse gases, Dr. Snoeckx has been honored with the Young Investigator Award from the International Plasma Chemistry Society and the PSE Early Career Award from the European Committee on Plasma and Ion Surface Engineering.