Název projektu:
FP7 - NMP 2012 - Rational Chemical design of solar-powered nano photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen fuel. (Ref: 11 GB 42O1 3L8V )
Popis:
A UK university is working on a FP7 proposal to develop low cost, safe and environmentally-friendly nanostructured inorganic materials for use as solar powered photocatalysts for the production of hydrogen fuel from water. The rational chemical design will result from a strong interaction between synthesis and characterisation of the nano photocatalysts. This will also promote fundamental understanding of key parameters connected to the efficacy of the catalytic materials. EU partners are sought
Description:
Many inorganic materials show technologically exploitable properties, such as catalytic properties, conductivity (electronic devises), magnetism (spintronics), optical properties (pigments and lighting), energy production, storage and saving (batteries, fuel cells, superconductivity) etc.
The science studying inorganic materials, with the aim to improve their properties and to discover entirely new ones, is solid state chemistry. To these aims, one established chemical route is the modification of known inorganic materials, which, in most cases, are oxides, composed by positively charged cations and negatively charged O2 anions. The conventional approach is the substitution or insertion of cations different from the original makeup. For example, the partial replacement of Y3+ for Zr4+ in ZrO2 has led to the preparation of the so-called yttria-stabilised zirconia, a solid electrolyte widely used in fuel cells and oxygen sensors.
A less frequently adopted approach is the substitution or insertion of anions different from the original makeup. This approach presents more experimental challenges, but provides a powerful additional parameter to the design of new materials. The potential of this approach has been recently brought to attention by the discovery of high Tc superconductivity in the iron-based mixed-anion materials, LnOTMPn (Ln = lanthanide, TM = transition metal, Pn = pnictogen), with physical properties tuneable via both anionic and cationic substitutions.
The goal of this project is to develop a low cost, safe and environmentally- friendly nanostructured photocatalyst materials that can use sunlight to catalyse the reaction leading to splitting of water and production of hydrogen fuel. Novel nanomaterials will be produced by modifying the chemical composition of the most promising materials to favour improvement of the visible-light harvesting properties. The preparation strategy will be based on a combination of the conventional ‘cationic’ approach with the less conventional ‘anionic’ approach. Measurements of relevant physical properties such as the band gap of the novel nanomaterials will be constantly related to the synthesis to achieve tailoring of physical properties. Catalysts screening will be performed by using microreactors that consist of many channels of micron-sized dimensions, hosting the catalyst and providing a large and easy to illuminate surface area on which the reaction can take place. A deep understanding of the relationship between band gap, structural distortion and structural complexity, effect of anion and cation substitution and photocatalytic activity will be at the centre of this research.
Project framework:
Work Package 1 (WP1)
WP1 involves the preparation of known and novel nanomaterials for photocatalytic applications, followed by the characterisation of their structure and physical properties and their relationship to theoretical models.
Work Package 2 (WP2)
WP2 involves the characterisation of the photocatalytic properties of the nanomaterials via traditional catalytic methods and microfluidic technology.
WP1 and WP2 will constitute the basis for the understanding of the key parameters and for the control of the photocatalytic process leading to the production of hydrogen fuel.
Work Package 3 (WP3)
WP3 involves the evaluation of possible further exploitation beyond testing for the microfluidic technology within the context of energy production and the evaluation of environmentally agreeable sources of water for hydrogen production.
Work Package 4 (WP4)
WP4 involves management of the project and dissemination of the results among the partners and outside the network.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements of the request
The research group encompasses solid-state chemistry, microfluidic technology and engineering and is looking to collaborate with academic and industrial partners. In particular:
• Experts in traditional catalytic testing of materials to run in parallel and support the screening carried out with microfluidic technology.
• Experts in theoretical modelling of oxides and experimental characterisation of semiconductor surfaces.
• Experts in evaluation, exploitation and possible scaling out of the microfluoidic technology towards energy production and beyond the testing of photocatalytic activity, i.e. the starting point of this project.
• Experts in evaluation of environmentally-friendly sources of water for hydrogen production.
• End users.
Programme: FP7 – Cooperation
Theme: NANOSCIENCES, NANOTECHNOLOGIES, MATERIALS AND NEW PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES - NMP
Call: 6th Call – 2012 (publication expected: 20 July 2011)
Activity: 4.1 – Nanoscience and nanotechnology
Area: II.1.1 Maximising the contribution of Nanotechnology to sustainable development
Topic: NMP.2012.1.1-1 Rational design of nano-catalysts for sustainable energy production based on fundamental understanding
Description:
Many inorganic materials show technologically exploitable properties, such as catalytic properties, conductivity (electronic devises), magnetism (spintronics), optical properties (pigments and lighting), energy production, storage and saving (batteries, fuel cells, superconductivity) etc.
The science studying inorganic materials, with the aim to improve their properties and to discover entirely new ones, is solid state chemistry. To these aims, one established chemical route is the modification of known inorganic materials, which, in most cases, are oxides, composed by positively charged cations and negatively charged O2 anions. The conventional approach is the substitution or insertion of cations different from the original makeup. For example, the partial replacement of Y3+ for Zr4+ in ZrO2 has led to the preparation of the so-called yttria-stabilised zirconia, a solid electrolyte widely used in fuel cells and oxygen sensors.
A less frequently adopted approach is the substitution or insertion of anions different from the original makeup. This approach presents more experimental challenges, but provides a powerful additional parameter to the design of new materials. The potential of this approach has been recently brought to attention by the discovery of high Tc superconductivity in the iron-based mixed-anion materials, LnOTMPn (Ln = lanthanide, TM = transition metal, Pn = pnictogen), with physical properties tuneable via both anionic and cationic substitutions.
The goal of this project is to develop a low cost, safe and environmentally- friendly nanostructured photocatalyst materials that can use sunlight to catalyse the reaction leading to splitting of water and production of hydrogen fuel. Novel nanomaterials will be produced by modifying the chemical composition of the most promising materials to favour improvement of the visible-light harvesting properties. The preparation strategy will be based on a combination of the conventional ‘cationic’ approach with the less conventional ‘anionic’ approach. Measurements of relevant physical properties such as the band gap of the novel nanomaterials will be constantly related to the synthesis to achieve tailoring of physical properties. Catalysts screening will be performed by using microreactors that consist of many channels of micron-sized dimensions, hosting the catalyst and providing a large and easy to illuminate surface area on which the reaction can take place. A deep understanding of the relationship between band gap, structural distortion and structural complexity, effect of anion and cation substitution and photocatalytic activity will be at the centre of this research.
Project framework:
Work Package 1 (WP1)
WP1 involves the preparation of known and novel nanomaterials for photocatalytic applications, followed by the characterisation of their structure and physical properties and their relationship to theoretical models.
Work Package 2 (WP2)
WP2 involves the characterisation of the photocatalytic properties of the nanomaterials via traditional catalytic methods and microfluidic technology.
WP1 and WP2 will constitute the basis for the understanding of the key parameters and for the control of the photocatalytic process leading to the production of hydrogen fuel.
Work Package 3 (WP3)
WP3 involves the evaluation of possible further exploitation beyond testing for the microfluidic technology within the context of energy production and the evaluation of environmentally agreeable sources of water for hydrogen production.
Work Package 4 (WP4)
WP4 involves management of the project and dissemination of the results among the partners and outside the network.
Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements of the request
The research group encompasses solid-state chemistry, microfluidic technology and engineering and is looking to collaborate with academic and industrial partners. In particular:
• Experts in traditional catalytic testing of materials to run in parallel and support the screening carried out with microfluidic technology.
• Experts in theoretical modelling of oxides and experimental characterisation of semiconductor surfaces.
• Experts in evaluation, exploitation and possible scaling out of the microfluoidic technology towards energy production and beyond the testing of photocatalytic activity, i.e. the starting point of this project.
• Experts in evaluation of environmentally-friendly sources of water for hydrogen production.
• End users.
Programme: FP7 – Cooperation
Theme: NANOSCIENCES, NANOTECHNOLOGIES, MATERIALS AND NEW PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES - NMP
Call: 6th Call – 2012 (publication expected: 20 July 2011)
Activity: 4.1 – Nanoscience and nanotechnology
Area: II.1.1 Maximising the contribution of Nanotechnology to sustainable development
Topic: NMP.2012.1.1-1 Rational design of nano-catalysts for sustainable energy production based on fundamental understanding
Požadavky na partnera:
Collaboration Type
Financial Resources
Comments
- Type of partner sought: Universities and/or companies
- Specific area of activity of the partner: research activities in innovative materials and energy
- Task to be performed by the partner sought: partner of an FP7 proposal
Financial Resources
Comments
- Type of partner sought: Universities and/or companies
- Specific area of activity of the partner: research activities in innovative materials and energy
- Task to be performed by the partner sought: partner of an FP7 proposal
Obchodní firma/fyzická osoba:
Technologické inovační centrum s.r.o.
Kontaktní osoba:
Lenka Kostelníková
Email:
Telefon:
+420 739 570 792
