HyPhoCO · Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Photoelectrodes for sustainable CO2 reduction

Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Photoelectrodes for sustainable CO2 reduction

This Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) is titled “Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Photoelectrodes for sustainable CO2 reduction”. As detailed in the DoA, HyPhoCO aims at the bottom-up development of robust, high-performance photocathodes for CO2 reduction, based on abundant and non-toxic conjugated porous polymer (CPP) and CPP/Cu-oxides hybrid materials. Using a fundamental research approach, the design of CO2 reduction photocathodes has been based on a thorough investigation of the electronic structure and charge transfer dynamics of the PEC CO2 reduction process. This major goal was proposed to be addressed by completing three specific: (1) design, synthesis and preparation of CPP and CPP/Cu-oxides hybrid photoelectrodes for optimum PEC CO2 reduction; (2) development of comprehensive descriptions of structure-performance relationships for CPPs and hybrid CO2 reduction photoelectrodes. (3) Assignment of overall efficiencies for CO2 reduction photoelectrochemical cells based on optimum CPP and hybrid photocathode. There are 3 major innovative concepts in HyPhoCO: (i) the development of a photoelectrochemical cell for CO2 reduction, therefore using CO2 (which is the most abundant greenhouse gas) as raw material, (ii) developing a technology largely based on functional polymers, which are materials largely abundant and free of geopolitical constraints, and (iii) development of single-site electrocatalysts for the CO2 reduction, a very valuable catalytic approach but poorly studied for the electrochemical CO2 reduction. These three innovative concepts contribute to addressing two main challenges humanity faces in the 21st century: (1) mitigation of climate change and (2) developing sustainable energy technologies.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union