SCOPE
Hydrogen production
Maturity Level
TRL 1-2
Development Level
Laboratory
Protection Level
Eco-efficient Preparation of Porous Photocatalysts
Entity:
We specialize in the development of advanced materials for energy and environmental applications, with a special focus on sustainable processes. We use a green technology based on supercritical CO₂ for the preparation of porous materials composed of graphene oxide aerogels, metal oxide nanoparticles, and MOFs. This allows us to obtain highly open, accessible structures free of organic solvents. These materials have been used as (photo)catalysts for H₂ production by water-splitting and methanol synthesis (from CO₂ hydrogenation), contributing to the development of clean technologies for energy conversion and storage.
Challenges met
- Minimization of toxic organic solvents and polluting synthesis methods by applying supercritical CO₂ as a green medium.
- Design of porous materials with high catalytic efficiency, enhancing light capture, mass transport, and accessibility to active sites while minimizing the amount of material used.
Scope of application
Photocatalysts can be integrated into systems for hydrogen production from water using sunlight. The development of these materials using CO₂ technology has great potential across several application areas within strategic sectors linked to the energy transition and sustainability. Green catalysis-based processes (such as those employing these materials) are increasingly demanded to reduce environmental impact in their synthesis, especially by using solvents that are non-toxic and non-explosive.
Main publications
- M. Kubovics, C. G. Silva, A. M. López-Periago, J. L. Faria, C. Domingo, “Photocatalytic hydrogen production using porous 3D graphene-based aerogels supporting Pt/TiO2 nanoparticles”, Gels, 2022, 8, 719.
- M. Kubovics; A.Borrás; A.A.Markeb; G. Marbán; J.Moral-Vico; A. Sánchez; A. M. López-Periago; C. Domingo. “Green Supercritical CO2 Synthesis of [Copper Clusters@FeBTC]@rGO Catalyst for Highly Efficient Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methanol”,: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2024-07-02; DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c03656
Related projects
- MICIU. Matrans42- SO project 2024-2028. Sustainable catalysts for green fuels production (IP: A. Ponrouch. SubIP challenge: Lopez-Periago).
Other related technologies
