Project Portugal 2030

Summary

PEC-H2 production is hindered by the lack of a cost-effective prototype system reaching the three-pillar criteria for commercialization: an active area of 100 cm2, 2920 h of stable performance (8 h over 365 days, <10% current loss), and a current density of 10 mA/cm2. DreamPEC proposes a cutting-edge technology for exploiting self-healable plasmonic-sensitized PEs, which last several years instead of several hours, going considerably beyond the state-of-the-art (SoA). INSTM succeeded recently in demonstrating that this approach is easily accomplishable due to parasitic reduction reactions and UPORTO reported the development of high-performing and scalable materials. Moreover, the oxidation of glycerol from wastewater into value-added compounds will make the production of green-H2 cost-effective and with a lower environmental impact than water electrolysis. DreamPEC is based on the following scientific features: a) Low stability of PEs represents the main bottleneck for the widespread use of PEC-H2; b) Problematic WS-based hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) SoA prompts the realization of PEC Glycerol oxidation cells, in which the oxidation evolution reaction (OER) anodic reaction is substituted with the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR); the LCA/DoE inputs are imperative for material discovery and the development of sustainable technologies; c) Among low-cost single photoabsorbers, Cu2O and Ta3N5 represent the most promising candidates, and Fe- and Ni-tailored catalysts are the most promising Earth-abundant catalysts for GOR; d) Plasmonics represent the key for providing long-term stability character to PEs; its integration within Cu2O, and possibly other electrodes, constitutes one of the scientific breakthroughs of the project; e) Material discovery requires a synergistic approach between computational, experimental, and engineering work, followed by advanced thin film fabrication, characterization, and upscaling; f) Build large-scale PEC devices assembled in a highly recyclable embodiment, incorporating clever designs; g) Use of highly efficient Si-based PEs in integrated-PEC (IPEC) approaches to unlock unprecedented performances capable of co-generation of H2 and heat. These advancements will allow demonstrating for the first time the 10000 h stable operation of highly efficient PEs for unbiased PEC glycerol oxidation tested under relevant outdoor conditions in the envisioned 200 cm2 prototype, and establishing rigorous standardized protocols for evaluating PEC-H2 production. As a result, the secondary product is the high-value-added product 3-dihydroxyacetone. The final goal is to develop a sustainable technology, with a levelized cost of H2 of ca. 3 €/kg, for clean energy supply in the EU. To reach these ambitious goals, the project counts on a motivated and multidisciplinary team: i) physicists and chemists will investigate the materials stabilization procedures, using plasmonics and density functional theory (DFT) studies and advanced electrochemical spectroscopy techniques (e.g. EIS, IMPS/IMVS, TRPL); ii) perform life cycle assessment, social and economic studies by chemical and environmental engineers; which will responsible to develop a prototype demonstrating the potential of DreamPEC technology in the realistic operative condition and for decentralized H2 production. An ambitious communication strategy will be pursued to engage the scientific, industrial, and societal communities for urgent energy decarbonization.