Objective
The transition to a sustainable chemical industry necessitates an overhaul of both raw materials and chemical processes. The Haber-Bosch N2 reduction to NH3 requires substantial energy input and is a major carbon dioxide emitter. Nevertheless, for over a hundred years it has been the basis of fertilizer and thus food production, and the step through which the syntheses of most nitrogen-containing chemicals go through. A nitrogen fixation that proceeds under ambient conditions, uses water as the source of protons, and is driven by renewable rather than fossil or chemical energy has been pursued without a breakthrough for decades, as are reactions that directly functionalize N2 to build nitrogen-containing compounds.
The objective of ReImagiN2 is to develop the visible light- and electricity-driven reduction of N2 to NH3, and the syntheses of organic molecules directly from N2 and CO2. The proposal is based on our ground-breaking results for CO2- and N2 reduction using f-block chemistry which showed that lanthanide photocatalysts can activate N2, CO2, and CO in the presence of chemical reductants. These photocatalysts access reaction manifolds and intermediates that are not available to transition metal-based systems, setting the stage for radically new approaches for small molecule activation and functionalization: a potential paradigm shift in small-molecule activation. Reaction development will be guided by experimental and computational mechanistic studies, which will enable the replacement of the chemical reductant with electrons from a cathode. Such mechanistic understanding, and newly designed catalysts will allow for the redirection of the N2 reduction reaction from NH3 formation to the forging of C-N and N-X bonds.
ReImagiN2 would yield the first truly sustainable N2 fixation and functionalization that has the potential to become a localized, distributed, on-demand producer of fuel, fertilizers and value-added chemicals.
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 catalysis photocatalysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2025-ADG
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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.
751 05 Uppsala
Sweden
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.