Condor

COmbined suN-Driven Oxidation and CO2 Reduction for renewable energy storage

Conversion of sunlight into fuels and mitigation of anthropogenic climate change are big scientific challenges. CONDOR addresses both of them by developing highly efficient solar-driven conversion of CO₂ into fuels and added-value chemicals. We propose a photosynthetic device made of two compartments (a) a photoelectrochemical cell that splits water and CO₂ and generates oxygen and syngas, a mixture of H₂ and CO; (b) a (photo)reactor that converts syngas into methanol and dimethylether (DME), via bi-functional heterogeneous catalysts. The proposed modular approach enables different configurations depending on the target product. The oxidation process is not limited to O₂ production, but entails chlorine and small organic molecules, such as 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, derived from the oxidation of low-cost and easily available precursors like salt water or alcohol derived biomass, respectively. Employed materials will be obtained through low energy/low temperature routes, mainly based on wet chemical procedures, such as sol-gel chemistry, mild hydrothermal processes, electrochemical processes at ambient temperature. Raw materials/precursors will not be limited by availability on a global scale, making use of organic species, silicon, earth abundant metal oxides, first row transition metals. The final target is a full photosynthetic device with 8% solar-to-syngas and 6% solar-to-DME efficiencies with three-months continuous outdoor operation.

This represents a large progress with respect to the state of the art and requires an international collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach, which integrates expertise in nanomaterials preparation and characterisation by operando microscopy and spectroscopy, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, photochemistry/photoelectrochemistry, PEC engineering and assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impact of the proposed technology, including life cycle assessment.

AMIRES was involved in the project’s preparatory phase and in the negotiations. Within the project, AMIRES is responsible for the project management and leads the work package dedicated to the communication and dissemination of results and exploitation activities.

• Partners:
  • ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA – ITALY
  • FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT CATALA D’INVESTIGACIO QUIMICA – Spain
  • CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE – Italy
  • UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT – Netherlands
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA – Italy
  • ENGIE – France
  • BELGISCH LABORATORIUM VAN DE ELEKTRICITEITSINDUSTRIE LABORELEC CVBA – Belgium
  • HYGEAR BV – Netherlands
  • AMIRES SRO – Czech Republic
  • International partner (outside of the consortium): THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL – USA

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101006839, project CONDOR.