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Flexible polymer-based biophotovoltaic devices for green hydrogen production

Project description

Biophotovoltaic devices for green hydrogen production

Green hydrogen is a clean and energy-dense alternative to fossil fuels, but its widespread adoption is limited by low production efficiency and high costs. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BioH2Gen project will develop a method for producing green hydrogen using biophotovoltaic devices that harness photosynthetic microorganisms to capture sunlight. The project will design flexible, nanostructured photoelectrodes made from polymer scaffolds and semiconducting conjugated polymers. By optimising the structure and charge transfer properties of these electrodes, BioH2Gen aims to improve solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective hydrogen production solution.

Objective

In view of the urgent need to mitigate the environmental effects caused by the large amounts of CO2 released into the atmosphere, alternative strategies for energy production using renewable sources (water, wind, biomass, sunlight) have been deployed. Green hydrogen (H2) is an alternative to fossil fuels due to its clean and high energy density combustion, but still limited the low efficiency of production and high cost. To respond to these limitations, BioH2Gen proposes an alternative strategy for green H2 production through biophotovoltaic (BPV) devices, taking advantage of photosynthetic microorganisms to generate H2 through sunlight capture. More specifically, this project proposes the development of new nanostructured photoelectrodes based on flexible polymeric scaffolds prepared by electrospinning modified with semiconducting conjugated polymers aiming at the construction of BPV devices through the interfacing with photosynthetic microbes (biophotoanode) and hydrogenase (biophotocathode). BioH2Gen addresses recent progress in the field and tackles this topic by deploying a multidisciplinary approach to develop an innovative solar powered H2 production platform. The structure, charge transfer kinetics, and band-gap design of new flexible photoelectrodes will improve biotic-abiotic interactions for charge transfer. Finally, a tandem BPV assembly and its incorporation into a photoelectrochemical cell architecture will be carried out, aiming at high solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies. The successful implementation of the research methodology will culminate in a sustainable alternative in BPV device development due to the lightweight, low-cost, and low-environmental impact of the materials employed in their construction.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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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.

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-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA
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.

€ 207 183,12
Address
CAMPUS DE CAMPOLIDE
1099 085 Lisboa
Portugal

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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