In the 2019 Climate Action Summit, the UN members states have committed to limit global warming to 1.5°C versus pre-industrial levels. This implies reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95 % of the 1990 level by 2050. As a result of this ambitious global challenge, hydrogen has rapidly become a key priority worldwide: see e.g. the European Green Deal, Europe’s clean energy transition and the Agenda – SRIA (Clean Hydrogen for Europe, July 2020). In this scenario, the SPHERA project investigates an innovative, unique, and smart platform to produce green H2. The main project concept is based on combining ultrasound power with heterogeneous photocatalysis in a single process unit powered only by renewable energy. In this regard, SPHERA will explore the potential of ultrasound technologies to engender hydrogen by mechanical stimulation of water using ultrasonic waves (20–1000kHz) and to address the main critical issues of photocatalysis pathway, represented by the lack of solar sensitivity and lower efficiency, especially in terms of H2 production. To this purpose, SPHERA will study original synergistic intensification routes to develop a new generation of hybrid sono-photocatalitic reactors characterized by the integration of ultrasonic irradiation, ultraviolet/visible radiation (UV/VIS-light) and a photocatalyst, based on the following rationale: 1) the hybrid action of ultrasound waves and UV/VIS-light improves the synergistic effect of hydrogen production compared to the single photocatalysis pathway reducing the rate-limiting step and increasing the magnitude of the associated kinetic; 2) the ultrasound irradiation enhances photoactivity of the employed material through the augmentation of the active surface area and the charge separation, which enhances the mass transfer of hydrogen from the surface of the catalyst to the bulk, and provokes the detachment of hydrogen bubbles from the catalyst surface;
3) the intelligent automatic and fine control of process parameters increase the efficiency of the overall process including energy-saving; 4) the use of ultrasonic waves irradiation during photocatalyst preparation improves its morphology, specific surface area, particles size distribution, dispersion of active sites and consequently, the photocatalytic activity. To achieve its goals, SPHERA will follow a multidisciplinary approach combining model-based design with lab- and bench-scale experimentation to identify the optimal reactor design. The ultimate project target is the comparative evaluation of the investigated process configurations from the energetic, economic and environmental standpoints.
SPHERA is a multidisciplinary and collaborative project Coordinate by the #CNR-ITAE (Dr. #Antonio Vita) of Messina, involving the University Federico II of Naples (Dr. Leandro Maio, Prof. #Fabrizio Ricci), and the University of Salerno (Prof. #Mariagiovanna Minutillo).
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