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Project Code [GOIPG/2022/2217]
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Project title
Assembling photoactive frameworks hosting nanoparticles for solar-driven CO2 reduction
Primary Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
University of Galway (NUIG)
Project Abstract
In the world�s current quest for energy system transformation, it is imperative to phase out fossil fuels and replace them with more sustainable energy sources. Ambitious goals were set in place in the 2015 Paris agreement to move towards renewable energy sources. However, most of the energy produced today still comes from fossil fuels. Environmental-friendly fuels can be obtained by mimicking natural processes (e.g., photosynthesis). CO2 transformation into value-added chemicals by using sunlight, solar fuels, has been proved to be an ideal approach to decarbonise the energy sector and chemical industries. Nevertheless, technical challenges still need to be solved to scale up these processes from the laboratory to the market. 2-D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) -based photosensitizers have been shown to overcome some of these challenges due to their interesting properties, such as porosity, robusticity, chemical and thermal stability, tunability, low cost, longer lifetime and better charge carrier efficiency. Nonetheless, to increase their performance, COFs require to host several catalytic centres. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have been demonstrated to be a suitable candidate due to their higher catalytic surface area and facile modulability. In this work, we propose the construction of hybrid materials based on the assembly of porous 2-D COFs hosting localized MNPs for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into value-added chemicals. Owing to the designed properties of these novel hybrid materials, the project aims to surpass current solar energy technologies and move towards the development of this highly promising solar fuel technology.
Grant Approved
�82,248.00
Research Theme
Carbon Stocks, GHG Emissions, Sinks and Management Options
Initial Projected Completion Date
31/08/2025