The project MARVEL promoted high-quality research training through excellence, innovation, mobility and diversity in inter/multidisciplinary investigation approaches. The main activities performed are listed below:
1. Training activities to strengthen scientific knowledge, research skills as well as complementary and transferable skills: The activities involved an in-depth practice on membrane fabrication and characterization techniques, teaching and supervision, attendance of summer schools, workshops, high-quality proposal development, public presentation skills etc.
2. Development of new membrane materials for RED and APWEL energy systems: For RED, a new type of CEM were prepared by chemical modification of commercial membranes using composite materials based on conducting polymers. These membranes exhibited a promising monovalent selectivity (Na+ vs Mg2+) with up to 3-fold improvement compared to pristine membranes. For APWEL, a new type of catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) were along with cheap and earth-abundant electrocatalysts. The CCM led to a significant reduction in catalyst loading compared to the traditional catalyst-coated electrodes.
3. Synthesis of binders and electrocatalysts for APWEL system: Platinum group-free catalysts based on NiCo2O4 for anode and NiFe2O4 for cathode were developed and used for CCM development. The use of PSEBS-CM-DABCO binder with the catalysts played a crucial role in the stability of the CCMs.
4. Hybrid RED-APWEL testing: Lab-scale RED unit equipped with the new monovalent selective CEMs resulted in a higher power density (more than 40 %) compared to the pristine counterparts. Moreover, the industrial-scale RED (200 cells) using sulfate-rich industrial effluents combined with a lab-scale APWEL unit (6 cells) resulted in a hydrogen production rate reaching 50 cm3/h.cm2 under the optimal conditions. This work marks a development towards large-scale renewable hydrogen production using industrial effluents.
5. Techno-economic assessment: Exergy analysis for RED in hybrid application with desalination technologies resulted in up to 16 % reduction specific energy consumption at the desalination stage. This principle was later extended to the application of RED in hydrogen technologies.
6. Dissemination plans for the project were developed, reviewed and updated to ensure its maximum visibility and impact. Some of the communication tools and strategies performed for the MARVEL project involve project websites, leaflets, public engagement activities, publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals, presentations at international conferences etc.
The research outputs of MARVEL have been presented at more than 6 international conferences. Up to 6 research papers have been published in international peer-reviewed journals. Other publications are being prepared for submission, submitted or under review.
