Project description
Turning seawater into clean hydrogen
Seawater is brimming with potential for producing clean hydrogen, but the current methods of electrolysis face challenges due to performance issues and the high cost of rare materials. In this context, the EU-funded HySEas project is developing a bipolar membrane water electrolyser that combines cation and anion exchange layers with a water-splitting catalyst, all in one unit, specifically designed for seawater. Additionally, the project is breaking new ground by finding ways to extract valuable metals from seawater brine and swapping out rare catalysts like iridium and platinum for more abundant alternatives. With the addition of innovative plasma treatments and advanced simulations, HySEas is paving the way for an efficient and sustainable approach to harnessing hydrogen from the ocean.
Objective
HySEas introduces an innovative approach to direct seawater electrolysis through the integration of a Bipolar Membrane (BPM), incorporating both a cation exchange layer akin to a proton exchange membrane (PEM) and an anion exchange layer similar to anion exchange membrane (AEM) as well as a water dissociation catalyst layer, within a Bipolar Membrane Water Electrolyser (BPMWE) device. Thus far, BPMWEs have been tested using conventional borrowed components from PEM and AEM water electrolysers. These tests have revealed limitations in terms of both durability and overall performance.
Here, the development of the BPMWE is combined with the recovery/reuse of salts and compounds from seawater brine through the development of innovative technological solutions: a) metal ion removal from seawater through direct reduction/photoreduction on oxide particles; and b) oxide particle regeneration through acid treatment to capture and reuse metals. Moreover, the drastic reduction of CRM will be achieved by: a) conducting a mitigation strategy to reduce Ir loading: sputter deposition on powder substrates to deposit the conductive layer of various morphologies between iridium catalyst and TiO2 support; b) using Fe, Ni, Mo oxide catalysts and other high entropy compounds to replace Ir-based catalysts; and c) using metal phosphides, sulphides and carbides (CoP, MoS2, Mo2C, etc.) to replace Pt-based catalysts.
Plasma treatment is used to engineer defects and vacancies and increase the active site density on the catalyst surface as well as to promote transport by manipulating particle size and enhanced pore distribution. HySEas also deploys customized computational models via multiphysics simulations, integrating microkinetic and microscopic models into a novel multiscale model of a salty water electrolyser. Finally, extensive stack assessment is conducted in terms of performance and durability.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry inorganic compounds
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science multiphysics
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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)
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.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
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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) HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024
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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.
57 001 THERMI THESSALONIKI
Greece
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.