Objective
Emerging micropollutants (MPs), including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), threaten ecosystems and public health due to their extreme stability and toxicity. Conventional treatment technologies largely fail to destroy these compounds, creating an urgent need for transformative, sustainable solutions. INSPIRE project will pioneer single-atom catalysts (SACs) integrated piezo(photo)catalytic ultrafiltration membranes to achieve rapid and energy-efficient PFAS degradation. SACs provide atom-efficient, pro,oting charge separation, while polymer-stabilised designs prevent aggregation and leaching. Embedding these catalysts into polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes induce β-phase transition further, enables synergistic photocatalysis and piezocatalysis, exploiting the piezo-phototronic effect to suppress electron–hole recombination and accelerate pollutant mineralisation.
The project combines: (i) design of earth-abundant metal based SACs on polymeric supports typically polymeric graphitic carbon nitride, (ii) scalable immobilisation onto PVDF membranes via green fabrication routes, (iii) advanced operando spectroscopy and modelling to unravel degradation pathways, (iv) lab level pilot-scale validation, and (v) integrated life-cycle and techno-economic assessments. Hosted at VSB–TUO, INSPIRE delivers high-impact publications, patentable SAC-membrane technologies, and training in photocatalysis, membrane engineering, and sustainability. The project aligns with Horizon Europe missions, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and UN SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), establishing a scalable platform for safe water and advancing the researcher’s career toward ERC-level independence.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis photocatalysis
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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-WIDERA-2025-TALENTS-01
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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.
708 00 OSTRAVA PORUBA
Czechia
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.