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ENE2016-74889-C4-2-R. Advanced Materials for Energy Applications Printed in 3D (3D-MEGA)

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The impressive development of renewable energies in recent decades has arisen in response to the global demand for a shift away from the current energy model based on hydrocarbon combustion, seeking new, cleaner, and more efficient energy production routes. However, the unpredictable and intermittent nature of these renewable energy sources necessitates the development of new energy storage methods to consolidate a scenario based on renewable energy resources. One of the most promising systems is based on hydrogen and/or biofuels combined with fuel cells. These systems rely on specific catalytic and photocatalytic processes, which can be used to add value to the project, such as the photoreduction of CO2 into fuels and, at a local level, the possibility of exploiting abundant resources in the Canary Islands, such as sunshine and rare earth deposits, for the in-situ generation of H2 through artificial photosynthesis. The 3D-MEGA subproject proposes several tasks within the coordinating 3D-MADE project that would offer solutions to this scenario: - Development of new fuel cells considered zero-emission systems using 3D structures provided by IREC. - Production of H2 from water (water-splitting) using solar radiation and new 3D-structured photocatalysts, leveraging this characteristic to assemble a system that reduces CO2 by converting it into fuel. - Production of biodiesel from new heterogeneous 3D catalysts incorporating advanced materials such as zeolites. - Exploration of rare earth resources on the islands, which could have direct applications not only in the manufacture of photosensitive resins to improve the efficiency of current solar panels but also in the potential use of salt flats for hydrogen production. The efficiency of all these processes depends closely on the surface where the chemical, electrochemical, photochemical, and photoelectrochemical reactions occur. Therefore, precise microstructural control could be a powerful tool for optimizing these processes. The 3D-MEGA project proposes using 3D printing technology as a method for the microstructural control of advanced materials for the applications described above. This project aligns with other efforts underway in Europe, such as the FCH-JU projects, which are dedicated to reducing the time to market for hydrogen and fuel cells, improving energy efficiency, and reducing CO2 emissions. All proposed activities are included within the 2013-16 Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation, specifically under the priority challenge of secure, efficient, and clean energy, and incorporate new technologies identified in Horizon 2020 and the Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation. An added value has been the incorporation of different researchers in this subproject, creating a large critical mass of inter-university, interdisciplinary and international researchers, with important groups from the Russian Academy of Sciences, the University of Jena, (Germany), and experts in artificial photosynthesis from the University of Tokyo (K. Domen, h=95, citations>34000).

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The impressive development of renewable energies in recent decades is due to the global demand for transforming the current energy model based on the combustion of hydrocarbons, seeking for new cleaner and more efficient methods of energy production. However, the unpredictable and intermittent nature of these renewable energy sources requires a development of new methods of energy storage to consolidate a system based on renewable energy resources. One of the most promising systems is based on hydrogen and/or biofuels combined with fuel cells. These systems depend on some specific catalytic and photocatalytic processes, which in turn can be used to give added value to the project, as it could be the CO2 photoreduction to fuels and, locally, the possibility of exploiting the abundant resources in Islands like the sun and rare earth deposits for the in-situ generation of hydrogen by artificial photosynthesis processes. 3D-MEGA subproject proposes different tasks within the 3D-MADE coordinator project, offering solutions to this scenario: -Developing new fuel cell systems considered zero pollutant emissions systems through the 3D structures provided by the IREC. -Production of hydrogen from water using solar radiation (water-splitting) and new 3D structured photocatalysts and, to use this feature to be able to assemble a system for reducing CO2 into a useful renewable fuel. -Production of biodiesel from new 3D heterogeneous catalysts that incorporate advanced materials based, among other zeolites. -Exploring the resources of the islands in terms of rare earth that could have a direct application not only to the manufacture of photoresists to improve the efficiency of current solar panels but also a possible use of salt flats for the production of hydrogen. The efficiency of these processes depends closely on the surface where chemical/electrochemical/photochemical/photoelectrochemical reactions happen. Therefore, accurate control of the microstructure may be a versatile and powerful tool to optimize these processes. The 3D-MEGA project proposes using 3D printing technology as a method of microstructural control of advanced materials for the applications mentioned above. The project fits with other efforts developed in Europe as FCH-JU program dedicated to reducing the time of entry into the market of H2 and fuel cells, improving energy efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions and the pollution. All proposed activities are included within the «»State Plan of Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013-16″» in the priority challenge of «»safe, efficient and clean energy»» and include new technologies identified in the Horizont2020 and the Spanish Strategy of Science and Technology and Innovation. An added value has been the incorporation of different researchers in this subproject, creating a critical mass of inter-university, interdisciplinary and international researchers with relevant groups from the Russian Academy of Science, University of Jena (Germany), and experts in artificial photosynthesis from the University of Tokyo (K. Domen, h = 95, cites>34000)

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Researcher at the University of La Laguna

  • Information
  • Category: National
  • Program: Challenges
  • Start date: 29/12/2016
  • End date: 29/12/2019