Project description
Better catalysts could clear hurdles for clean hydrogen production
Hydrogen is a key priority to achieve the European Green Deal and Europe's clean energy transition. Currently, the majority of hydrogen is produced by steam reforming of fossil fuels. Water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources is a cleaner alternative to steam reforming, yet lack of stable, affordable and effective catalysts prevents the widespread use of the technology. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ModCat4OER project is investigating the catalytic activity of Earth-abundant transition metal oxides for use in oxygen evolution reactions. Focus will be placed on gaining a fundamental understanding of the nature of active sites.
Objective
Hydrogen is considered essential to reach the European Green Deal and Europe´s clean energy transition. Nowadays, most hydrogen is produced by reforming of fossil fuels. Electrochemical water electrolysis using renewable sources as energy input represents a cleaner way than reforming of fuels to create hydrogen. However, water electrolysis will only be feasible if stable, affordable and effective catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are discovered. The research objective of this project is to explore the catalytic activity in OER of Earth abundant transition metal oxides to gain fundamental understanding on the nature of the active sites. To this effect, ordered thin films will be grown, aiming to discover the most active formulations and facets of the crystal structure. This project will be performed at the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG), in the department of Interface Science lead by Prof. Roldán Cuenya. MPG was ranked as the third top institution according to the Nature Index 2019. I will work with Dr. Kuhlenbeck, an expert in the surface science field. Merging of his experience in growing thin films with the my background in electrochemical processes is key for the success of the project. During the two years of the project, I will be involved in the dissemination of the results to Academia and the general public through participation in conferences, publication of articles and outreach activities. An individual Career Development Plan, outlined and reviewed by Dr. Kuhlenbeck and Prof. Roldán Cuenya, will be used to monitor the research maturity obtained during the project.
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 electrochemistry electrolysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy hydrogen energy
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.