PhotoElectrocatalytic smart Systems for CHEmicals and FUels production

The project PESCHE-FU proposes a new paired (tandem) photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) approach where the photocatalytic conversion of biomass derivatives into added value products will be accompanied by a tunable electrocatalytic process towards either H2 evolution or hydrogenation of unsaturated organic molecules. Hence, the PEC technology will address simultaneous production of chemicals and fuels from a fundamental perspective, moving up to TRL 5 (prototype testing under environmental relevant conditions). The main elements of the project are based on concepts of energy efficiency and sustainability, where reactions towards useful products will be triggered using solar light and renewable electricity in environmental friendly solvents such as water. The target photooxidation products will be acetic acid and oxalic acid, while the electroreduction process will be investigated in the context of hydrogen production (HER process) or its direct use in hydrogenation of water-soluble unsaturated molecules (ECH process), namely olefins and phenols. The project is organized around four main areas: 1) the development of smart nanostructured photoanodes with selective capability to convert biomass-derived alcohols into acetic acid (CH3COOH) or oxalic acid, which are two highly important industrial compounds; 2) the development of new concepts for the assembly of smart electrocatalysts able to produce H2 or catalyze hydrogenation reactions according to the specific catalyst structure and stimulus-responding structural switches; 3) Understanding the fundamental aspects of the catalysis to carry out optimization of the catalyst/PEC for enhanced productivity and stability; 4) pairing the two photo- and electrocatalytic processes into a single PEC device for multi-channel synthesis of high-value molecules

The project PESCHE-FU proposes a new paired (tandem) photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) approach where the photocatalytic conversion of biomass derivatives into added value products will be accompanied by a tunable electrocatalytic process towards either H2 evolution or hydrogenation of unsaturated organic molecules. Hence, the PEC technology will address simultaneous production of chemicals and fuels from a fundamental perspective, moving up to TRL 5 (prototype testing under environmental relevant conditions). The main elements of the project are based on concepts of energy efficiency and sustainability, where reactions towards useful products will be triggered using solar light and renewable electricity in environmental friendly solvents such as water. The target photooxidation products will be acetic acid and oxalic acid, while the electroreduction process will be investigated in the context of hydrogen production (HER process) or its direct use in hydrogenation of water-soluble unsaturated molecules (ECH process), namely olefins and phenols. The project is organized around four main areas: 1) the development of smart nanostructured photoanodes with selective capability to convert biomass-derived alcohols into acetic acid (CH3COOH) or oxalic acid, which are two highly important industrial compounds; 2) the development of new concepts for the assembly of smart electrocatalysts able to produce H2 or catalyze hydrogenation reactions according to the specific catalyst structure and stimulus-responding structural switches; 3) Understanding the fundamental aspects of the catalysis to carry out optimization of the catalyst/PEC for enhanced productivity and stability; 4) pairing the two photo- and electrocatalytic processes into a single PEC device for multi-channel synthesis of high-value molecules