Project description
Converting light to mechanical energy might be a black or white issue
Inspired by nature, synthetic micromotors and nanomotors (MNMs) convert other types of energy into mechanical energy to perform work on very small scales. Among the motors converting optical energy are photocatalytic MNMs. The key to widespread applicability will be harvesting solar energy along the entire spectrum. Conventional titanium oxide (TiO2) is a white pigment commonly used in the paint and plastics industry, which mainly absorbs ultraviolet light. Its black counterpart, slightly oxidised TiO2 or oxygen deficient TiO2, additionally absorbs visible and infrared light. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the STIMULATOR project is harnessing black TiO2 for a new generation of practically applicable photocatalytic MNMs.
Objective
Photocatalytic Micro and nanomotors (MNMs) are artificial machines that convert light energy to propulsion and these light-powered machines have garnered considerable attention due to their potential applications in environmental detection/remediation, biomedicine, and microengineering. Since these machines are light controlled, their direction and velocity of motion can be regulated by modulating the intensity and orientation of the light source and the selection of light source is determined according to the absorption spectrum of the MNMs. For real-life applications, it is necessary to harvest solar energy directly for the autonomous propulsion of such motors that will pave the way for a unique motor system with enhanced motor skills. TiO2 is one of the most efficient and most investigated photocatalysts and researches are going on to directly harvest solar energy without using any external light source. It is necessary to synthesise a material that can harvest the whole solar spectrum containing 5% UV (absorb 200-400nm), 43% Visible (absorb 400-700 nm), and 52% IR (700-2500 nm) energy. In such a way, to exploit TiO2, its black version, the ‘black TiO2’ with mesoporosity will be implemented here in the form of its janus structural combinations with metals to form MMBT MNMs and bimetallics to form BMBT MNMs in a fuel free environment. These MNMs will be implemented in photocatalysis of a one component and two component systems, viz. using a single anionic or cationic dye as the target (single component) or a mixture of one anionic and one cationic dye as target (two component). So, the new class of MNMs will pave the way for selective and non-selective photocatalysis. Overall, STIMULATOR will develop, a new class of materials called ‘direct-sunlight active MNMs’.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis photocatalysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels energy conversion
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
602 00 BRNO STRED
Czechia
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.