Embodiments relate to methods for enhancing chemical conversions. One or more embodiments relate to a method for enhancing a multi-step chemical conversion reaction. The method includes providing a reactant mixture comprising one or more reacting specie(s); and providing a catalyst or sorbent comprising one or more support materials and one or more deposited catalytically active materials. The method further includes applying an electromagnetic field with a prescribed power, frequency, and pulsing strategy specific to interactions of reactant species and an electromagnetic field with at least one of the support materials, sorbent, and catalytically active materials in a particular chemical reaction.

A method for generating hydrocarbons using a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and a Fischer-Tropsch unit in a single microtubular reactor is described. This method can directly synthesize hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water. The method integrates high temperature co-electrolysis of H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 and low temperature Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process in a single microtubular reactor by designation of a temperature gradient along the axial length of the microtubular reactor. In practice, methods disclosed herein can provide direct conversion of CO.sub.2 to hydrocarbons for use as feedstock or energy storage.

Embodiments relate to methods for enhancing chemical conversions. One or more embodiments relate to a method for enhancing a multi-step chemical conversion reaction. The method includes providing a reactant mixture comprising one or more reacting specie(s); and providing a catalyst or sorbent comprising one or more support materials and one or more deposited catalytically active materials. The method further includes applying an electromagnetic field with a prescribed power, frequency, and pulsing strategy specific to interactions of reactant species and an electromagnetic field with at least one of the support materials, sorbent, and catalytically active materials in a particular chemical reaction.

A hydrocarbon generation system that combines a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and a Fischer-Tropsch unit in a single microtubular reactor is described. This system can directly synthesize hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water. High temperature co-electrolysis of H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 and low temperature Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process are integrated in a single microtubular reactor by designation of a temperature gradient along the axial length of the microtubular reactor. The microtubular reactor can provide direct conversion of CO.sub.2 to hydrocarbons for use as feedstock or energy storage.

A method for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the method including: 1) gasifying a raw material to obtain a crude syngas including H.sub.2, CO and CO.sub.2; 2) electrolyzing a saturated NaCl solution using a chloralkali process to obtain a NaOH solution, Cl.sub.2 and H.sub.2; 3) removing the CO.sub.2 in the crude syngas using the NaOH solution obtained in 2) to obtain a pure syngas; and 4) insufflating the H.sub.2 obtained in 2) to the pure syngas to adjust a mole ratio of CO/H.sub.2 in the pure syngas, and then introducing the pure syngas for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. A device for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis includes a gasification device, an electrolyzer, a first gas washing device, and a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor.

A plasmonic nanoparticle catalyst for producing hydrocarbon molecules by light irradiation, which comprises at least one plasmonic provider and at least one catalytic property provider, wherein the plasmonic provider and the catalytic property provider are in contact with each other or have distance less than 200 nm, and molecular composition of the hydrocarbon molecules produced by light irradiation is temperature-dependent. And a method for producing hydrocarbon molecules by light irradiation utilizing the plasmonic nanoparticle catalyst.

A multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber, introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber, and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.

An input stream of gaseous nitrogen and carbon dioxide is introduced into a first interior volume of a separation vessel that is divided into first and second interior volumes by a separation membrane that includes a metal layer. The metal layer selectively permits movement of nitrogen through the metal layer. An output stream of gaseous nitrogen and carbon dioxide is conveyed out of the first interior volume and into a reaction vessel. The volume fraction of carbon dioxide is greater in the output stream than in the input stream; the volume fraction of nitrogen is reduced in the output stream relative to the input stream. Nitrogen is removed from the second interior volume to maintain a gradient of nitrogen partial pressure across the separation membrane that causes net transport of nitrogen from the first interior volume through the separation membrane into the second interior volume.

An input stream of gaseous nitrogen and carbon dioxide is introduced into a first interior volume of a separation vessel that is divided into first and second interior volumes by a separation membrane that includes a metal layer. The metal layer selectively permits movement of nitrogen through the metal layer. An output stream of gaseous nitrogen and carbon dioxide is conveyed out of the first interior volume and into a reaction vessel. The volume fraction of carbon dioxide is greater in the output stream than in the input stream; the volume fraction of nitrogen is reduced in the output stream relative to the input stream. Nitrogen is removed from the second interior volume to maintain a gradient of nitrogen partial pressure across the separation membrane that causes net transport of nitrogen from the first interior volume through the separation membrane into the second interior volume.

Disclosed is an electrochemical process to simultaneously produce a syngas suitable for the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process and oxygen. In an example embodiment, the process includes feeding steam and CO.sub.2 to an intermediate temperature (e.g., <700 C.) electrochemical reactor to produce separate CO-rich and O.sub.2-rich streams. An additional electrochemical reactor can be used to produce H.sub.2. The H.sub.2 is combined with CO from the first reactor to produce a syngas mixture ideal for a downstream F-T process. Alternatively, the electrochemical reactor can produce methane directly or a methanol stream for conversion to a hydrocarbon fuel.