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MULTI-ELECTRON PROCESSES FOR LIGHT DRIVEN ELECTRODES AND ELECTROLYTES IN CONVERSION AND STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY

Project description

New compact unit to both harvest and store solar energy

The EU-funded LIGHT-CAP project aims to develop an eco-friendly technology for efficiently harnessing solar energy. It plans to combine energy conversion and storage in a single, compact, lightweight unit. The innovative idea behind LIGHT-CAP's hybrid technology is based on leveraging the cooperative electronic properties of zero- and two-dimensional nanomaterials and the potential of delocalised electrical charges after photoactivation. The disruptive technology will be demonstrated in device designs analogous to cell batteries, hybrid supercapacitors and electrolytic capacitors. LIGHT-CAP will bring together multidisciplinary teams from Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Objective

The intermittent character of solar-energy and the need to store it efficiently is undoubtedly the Achille’s heel of current photovoltaic/energy storage systems like silicon solar panels and big batteries characterized by high costs of installation and maintenance and by large sizes and high weight. LIGHT-CAP will launch a long-term technological vision in Europe that combines energy conversion and storage into one single compact unit with low volume and weight, based on environmentally friendly and Earth abundant materials, with the additional cost benefit delivered by solution processing. LIGHT-CAP’s science enabled hybrid technology is based on the exploitation of the cooperative electronic properties of zero-dimensional and two-dimensional nano-materials, which take over the role of both the light energy conversion and storage, together with the unique opportunity to accumulate multiple delocalized charges per nanostructural unit after photo-activation. Thus, LIGHT-CAP merges solar-powered energy storage with multi-charge transfer capability. Superior stability of the active components is given by the delocalization of the stored charges with respect to most conventional organic redox couples, and the further gain of prospectively enhanced light-powered energy density. This disruptive technology will be demonstrated in devices designs analogous to cell batteries and hybrid electrolytic-like/super-capacitors with the added value of being powered by the quasi infinite availability of the sun. To this aim LIGHT-CAP encompasses an interdisciplinary community that will stimulate the genesis of a novel Europe-based innovation eco-system around the new technological paradigm with a direct impact on portable and mobile electronics, simultaneously setting the basis for its future exploitation in large area systems too. The achievement of the LIGHT-CAP’s ambitious objectives will contribute to a future sustainable and zero-emission energy landscape in Europe.

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Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-FETPROACT-2018-2020

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Coordinator

FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 725 146,25
Address
VIA MOREGO 30
16163 Genova
Italy

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Region
Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 725 146,25

Participants (6)

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