Single atom based nanohybrid photocatalyts for green fuels

Projektinformationen

SAN4Fuel

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101079384

DOI

10.3030/101079384

Projekt abgeschlossen

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 20 Juli 2022

Startdatum 1 November 2022

Enddatum 31 Oktober 2025

Finanziert unter

• Widening participation and spreading excellence

Gesamtkosten

€ 1 498 993,75

EU-Beitrag

€ 1 498 993,75

Koordiniert durch

UNIVERZITA PALACKEHO V OLOMOUCI
Czechia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SAN4Fuel (Single atom based nanohybrid photocatalyts for green fuels)

Berichtszeitraum: 2022-11-01 bis 2025-10-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

The SAN4Fuel project (Single-Atom-Based Nanohybrid Photocatalysts for Green Fuels) addresses the global challenge of replacing fossil fuels with sustainable, carbon-neutral energy carriers. Dependence on fossil resources continues to drive global warming, while current solar-energy technologies face low sunlight power density and limited storage capability.

SAN4Fuel develops next-generation single-atom photocatalysts (SACs) based on Earth-abundant metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) for solar-driven water splitting and CO2 reduction. These catalysts convert sunlight directly into hydrogen and short-chain hydrocarbons, enabling clean-fuel generation with minimal environmental footprint.

The main goal is to strengthen the research excellence and innovation capacity of Palacký University Olomouc (UP) by twinning with leading European partners:
• FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany) – single-atom catalysts on semiconductors
• University of Trieste (Italy) – metal/carbon hybrid photocatalysts and synchrotron methods
• VSB–Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic) – computational modelling and supercomputing

Together, these partners merge experimental and theoretical expertise to design advanced SACs at the atomic scale.

Main activities:

Exploratory research on hybrid photocatalysts for water splitting and CO2 reduction.

Knowledge transfer through staff exchanges and expert visits.

Career development via joint PhD programmes and summer schools.

Capacity building in proposal writing and innovation management.

Dissemination and outreach through workshops and open-science actions.

Expected impacts: creation of cost-effective recyclable catalysts; capacity building at UP; long-term collaboration among Czech and EU excellence centres; enhanced industry links; and broader societal awareness of renewable energy. The project contributes to EU priorities in energy, sustainability, and “Improved access to excellence.”

While primarily a materials-science project, SAN4Fuel includes public-engagement elements such as outreach on clean-energy acceptance, co-creation events, and promotion of equality and inclusiveness.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

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.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

SAN4Fuel produced a substantial body of knowledge and a foundation for future innovation in single-atom catalysis for green-fuel generation. Its 28+ publications include major papers in Science, Chemical Reviews (2024, DOI 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00155) Advanced Materials, Advanced Science, JACS, and ACS Catalysis. Key outcomes:
• Self-regenerating Pt/Ge–MFI zeolite catalysts with reversible single-atom/cluster transformation (Science, 2025).
• Light-driven CO2 reduction to ethylene on Au/TiO2 via heterolytic H2 activation (Science, 2025).
• Stabilised Pt rafts on TiO2 showing enhanced H2 evolution (Adv. Mater., 2024).
• Microwave-engineered Ni/CN frameworks with controlled vacancies (Adv. Sci., 2023).
• Synergistic Pd single atoms + clusters on CdS for methanol dehydrogenation (JACS, 2024).
• Pt SACs on g-C₃N₄ for selective hydroboration of alkenes (ACS Catal., 2025).
• Comprehensive Chem. Rev. article on earth-abundant SACs for energy applications.

Impacts:
– Contribution to EU Green Deal objectives via solar-driven hydrogen and CO2 valorisation.
– Progress in sustainable chemistry using non-critical raw materials.
– Reinforcement of research excellence and networking within Widening countries.
– Elevation of Czech research visibility through top-tier publications and partnerships.

Future needs:
Further development requires (i) advanced operando studies linking structure and reactivity, (ii) pilot-scale demonstrations of hybrid catalysts, (iii) industrial validation and IPR protection, and (iv) continued access to high-performance computing and synchrotron infrastructures.

SAN4Fuel exceeded its goals, delivering tangible scientific outcomes and laying a solid basis for new Horizon Europe collaborations and technology-oriented initiatives.