Project description
Innovative microrobotics system for microplastic waste valorisation
Plastic pollution is a key danger to our environment and ecosystems and has become a growing concern worldwide. Despite this, recycling solutions and efforts are struggling to keep pace with the growing production of plastic products and, by extension, plastic waste. The EU-funded ENV-ROBO-PHOTOCAT project aims to develop an innovative, light-driven, multifunctional microrobotic system manufactured from biocompatible, stimuli-responsive hydrogels containing functionalised carbon dots. This microrobotic system will enable waste valorisation of microplastics, converting them into carbon-rich nanomaterials and hydrocarbons suitable for sustainable reuse. Furthermore, the hydrogel utilised for its manufacture will allow for improved hydrophilicity, mechanical flexibility, porosity, and other key traits, while also improving sustainability.
Objective
This project mainly focuses on environmental remediation using microrobots via photocatalysis. Plastic pollution is a growing global concern nowadays that raises significant health risks. In this regard, the upcycling or degradation of plastic waste is a sustainable approach for environmental remediation. This project aims at the development of a multifunctional, light-driven microrobotic system based on biocompatible, stimuli-responsive hydrogels with functionalized carbon dots (CDs), for sustainable plastic waste valorization. The hydrogel is expected to offer porosity, hydrophilicity, and mechanical flexibility, enhancing adsorption, diffusion, and adaptability, while the CDs, engineered through heteroatom doping, surface functionalization, and structural modification, will provide tunable optical properties and redox sites, enabling efficient photocatalysis. That will target the efficient conversion of the plastics (microplastics) into valuable small hydrocarbons and carbon-rich nanomaterials for sustainable reuse. A core innovation lies in the modification of the CDs to precisely control the exciton dynamics properties within the CD-hydrogel composite. The in-depth understanding of the active charge carrier generation, separation, and accumulation at the active sites will be done using advanced ultrafast spectroscopic studies. These studies will uncover structure-property relationships, guiding the rational design of next-generation photocatalysts. Building on the fundamental understanding, upon light irradiation, the photogenerated electrons in the CB of the photocatalyst will reduce environmental oxygen to form ROS, promoting in situ H2O2 production in aqueous medium. Simultaneously, holes in the VB may generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH), to oxidatively cleave the polymer chains of plastics. This dual-function photocatalytic system enables a self-sustained, integrated solution for environmental remediation and circular plastic economy.
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 physical sciences condensed matter physics quasiparticles
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis photocatalysis
- engineering and technology materials engineering composites
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
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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.
46117 Liberec
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.