NanoINCAGE · Luminescent Nanocrystals in a Cage for Solar-to-Fuel Conversion
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-09-01 → 2018-08-31
- EU contribution
- €175,420
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-RI
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Results in brief
Luminescent Nanocrystals in a Cage for Solar-to-Fuel Conversion
One of the biggest challenges of our time is to ensure that the ever-increasing demand for energy does not result in a further increase in the CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Research efforts in renewable energies and energy efficient technologies have been notably increasing in the past ten years, so to decrease CO2 emission while reducing energy utilization. Carbon capture and storage from large industrial sources is one of the most powerful approaches to prevent the CO2 from increasing up to unacceptable levels. In this scenario, the utilization of the sequestrated CO2 by converting it into useful chemicals has a huge potential to contribute reducing the dependence of our society on petroleum. Electrochemical CO2 conversion is emerging as a sustainable technology, especially if the energy generated from intermittent renewable resources (i.e. solar) is employed to power the reactor. The goal of the applicant research is the realization of a photo-electrochemical device that is able to use solar energy to convert CO2 into value-added chemicals, such as ethylene and methane. While much progress has been made, this emerging field is challenged by huge technical and scientific questions. In natural photosynthesis light absorption and catalysis occur in different sites of the leaf. In a simplified scenario, the energy harvested by the light absorbing pigments is funnelled towards a reaction center through a cycle of reactions called the Calvin cycle. Herein, the idea is to realize an energy conversion device based on Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) antenna as light absorber. Specifically, A FRET antenna based on the recently discovered all-inorganic perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) has been chosen as a model system. In this project, the encapsulation with an amorphous alumina matrix deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) was successfully implemented as an effective strategy to stabilize PeQDs of different composition against air, water, heat and light. Finally, this project has offered the chance to carry out a highly multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary program and the obtained results on the synthesis and physical characterizations of these novel hybrids in the near future will impact other research fields in chemistry, material science and engineering.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Artificial photosynthesis, which can produce hydrogen and oxygen from solar irradiation, is one of the possible means to provide clean and renewable energy. Despite the recent progress, this emerging field is challenged by huge technical and scientific questions. In natural photosynthesis light absorption and catalysis occur in different sites of the leaf. In a simplified scenario, the energy harvested by the light absorbing pigments is funnelled towards the oxygen evolving complex. Here, we propose to realize the same biologically-inspired scheme using a novel hybrid system consisting of colloidal quantum dots embedded in a metal organic framework cage (CQD@MOF). In particular, a CQD Förster-transfer based light harvesting antenna will directionally transfer energy to a catalyst located in separate sites of the device. In addition to the rich basic science opportunities behind the introduction of this new concept in artificial photosynthesis, full-solar spectrum harvesting deriving from the characteristic size-dependent band gap tunability of CQDs, the potential for high voltages by combining CQDs of different size and composition, and the lack of contact between the light absorber and the electrolyte, intrinsic to the proposed device architectures, are all advantages that make this CQD@MOF hybrid Förster-based scheme highly appealing. One of the key component of the research will be to develop synthetic schemes to access these multifunctional systems with an unprecedented level of control through multiple length-scales. The experience and the skills gained by the applicant during her earlier carrier in the device fabrication together with the long-standing experience of the supervisor in this field will be extremely beneficial for a successful outcome of the proposal.NanoINCAGE is highly multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary program and its successful outcome will tremendously impact several other research fields in chemistry, materials science and engineering.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE · LausanneCoordinatorSwitzerland
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union