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Solar To Value

Project description

Solar-powered solution tackles CO2 emissions, plastic waste

Achieving net-zero or net-negative CO2 emissions is crucial to combating global warming. The EU aims for a 40 % reduction in emissions and a 32 % increase in renewable energy by 2030. Additionally, the massive accumulation of PET plastic waste poses a significant environmental challenge. Innovative recycling solutions are urgently needed to address these issues. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SolVa project offers a solution by developing a solar-powered system that converts CO2 into fuels while recycling PET waste. Using advanced electrocatalysts, it aims to create an efficient photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction and PET oxidation system. This interdisciplinary approach promises standalone PEC cells for dual CO2 and PET processing.

Objective

To combat global warming, achieving net-zero or net-negative CO2 emissions is imperative. The EU, aligning with the Paris Agreement, aims to reduce emissions by 40% and increase renewables share to 32% by 2030. Another challenge that the globe faces is the massive accumulation of PET plastic waste, prompting the EU to seek innovative recycling solutions. Solar-powered photoelectrochemical systems offer a clean, cost-effective alternative by converting CO2 into fuels while simultaneously recycling PET waste into high-value products. Moreover, by integrating PET oxidation, it aims to overcome the substantial overpotential loss associated with conventional oxygen evolution reactions at photoanode, making the process more efficient. Therefore, Solar-to-Value (SolVa) missions to develop a co-planar photocathode-photoanode architecture based on halide perovskites, creating an interdisciplinary solution for an efficient PEC CO2R-PET oxidation system. To facilitate these processes, advanced and selective electrocatalysts: Fe and Cu single atoms on N-doped carbon catalysts for CO2 reduction and NiFe-based catalysts for PET oxidation, will be integrated into the photocathode and photoanode, respectively. To ensure the stability of the perovskite-based photoelectrodes, protective layers of ITO will be deposited, preventing direct contact of thin-films with the electrolyte. The successful realization of this project holds the promise of developing standalone monolithic PEC cells for CO2R-PET oxidation. This can also extend the anodic recycling process to PV modules/spent Li-ion batteries and integrate it with cathodic CO2R through proper modifications of electrocatalysts and electrolytes. SolVa addresses two pressing global issues in a single innovative system, ultimately promoting a sustainable and circular economy.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM
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.

€ 191 760,00
Address
KAPELDREEF 75
3001 Leuven
Belgium

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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