During its three-year implementation, SAN4Fuel executed a coherent programme of joint research, training, and capacity-building connecting UP Olomouc with FAU, UNITS, and VSB.
On the scientific level, the consortium established new synthetic routes for Earth-abundant SACs on semiconductor and carbon supports via defect engineering, ultrasound-assisted synthesis, microwave treatments, and plasmonic coupling. Hybrid TiO2, TiN, CdS, g-C₃N₄ and perovskite systems with atomically dispersed metal sites showed outstanding activity for water splitting and CO2 reduction. In-situ XPS, EPR, EXAFS, and advanced DFT modelling revealed structure–activity relationships and charge-transfer mechanisms.
The consortium produced over 28 peer-reviewed papers, including two Science publications and others in JACS, Advanced Materials, Chemical Reviews, and Nature Communications, positioning the partners among global leaders in single-atom photocatalysis.
Extensive mobility and training included dozens of exchange visits for researchers and administrative staff, five summer/winter schools, and multiple workshops involving more than 250 participants. A Joint PhD Programme was launched with double supervision schemes.
SAN4Fuel advanced understanding of (i) anchoring of single atoms on defective supports, (ii) plasmonic–semiconductor coupling for thermophotocatalysis, (iii) mechanisms of CO2 reduction and H2 evolution, and (iv) integration of theory and experiment for predictive design.
Overall, the project strengthened UP’s excellence, international visibility, and participation potential in future Horizon Europe, ERC, and EIC Pathfinder calls, while contributing to EU decarbonisation goals.
