Novel Hybrid Photoelectrodes Against Climate Change
Research project corresponding to the call 2021 and reference: TED2021-129999A-C33, within the State Program to Promote Scientific-Technical Research and its Transfer (Strategic Projects Oriented to Ecological Transition and Digital Transition).
2D-Photo2Change is based on the synergy of three research institutions (ESISNA-CSIC, FRONCAT-UAM and PhAPU-IMDEA) to synthesize novel 2D photoactive polymeric nanostructures, in the form of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), to transform sunlight and ubiquitous molecules, as CO2 and H2O, into valuable products (e.g., H2, CO, CH4, C2-C3, ) as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. Specifically, 2D-Photo2Change proposes the development of photoelectrochemical cells based on the combination of highly active organic/inorganic hybrid photoelectrodes and co-catalysts.
The subproject PEC2Change aims to the photoelectrocatalytic evaluation and integration of the photoelectrodes in a complete photoelectrochemical cell for driving the CO2 reduction reaction and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction. For the photoanode, PEC2Change will explore highly defective n-type metal oxides, as BiVO4, TiO2 and Fe2O3, as the photoactive materials towards Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). As photocathodes, PEC2Change suggests the deposition of 2D photoactive COFs over inorganic p-type oxides, like different Cu-based oxides.
