ElectroVolt

Project description

ElectroVolt continues the research initiated in our group in 2019 (Integra2-PID2019-109389RB-I00) to study molecules and materials by analysing and understanding the photo-electro catalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) using solar cells as a current/voltage source and mixed oxides/molecular materials as electro active catalysts.

The project targets to rationalize the products of the CO₂ reduction, with the applied electrical bias and the mechanistic study of the catalysis reaction under dark and under light irradiation. ElectroVolt uses solar cells based on novel hybrid perovskites formulations and newly design organic semiconductor molecules as photoactive materials. We will use hybrid materials based on nanoparticulated oxides and molecules and/or polymers as electro active catalysts. To complete our objectives, the project involves an experienced multidisciplinary research team with previous track-record on the synthesis and characterisation of inorganic and organic semiconductors, the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic devices and the measurements and analysis of photo-electrochemical devices for the reduction of CO₂.

The challenges for the ElectroVolt project are:

(i) The design, synthesis and the characterization of novel molecules, polymers and/or hybrid materials based o nanoparticulated oxides;

(ii) the understanding of the material properties that favour the increase in solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency solar cells;

(iii) the design and fabrication of molecular solar cells that deliver sufficient current and voltage (tandem devices) to promote the electrochemical reduction of CO₂;

(iv) the analysis of the catalyst stability/performance and the transformation of CO₂ into valuable fuels and fine chemicals.

Proyecto PID2022-139866NB-I00 financiado por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, UE