CLYOSPHERE

CLYOSPHERE project intend to demonstrate that it is possible to produce clean hydrogen from the photothermal transformation of biomass-derived compounds dissolved in water, using solar light by integrating novel photoactive catalysts inside an innovative photoreactor based on solar Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) configuration. To reach this objective, CLYOSPHERE will develop new photo(thermo)catalysts based on bare semiconductor or their heterostructures capable of absorbing in the UV, Vis and IR solar irradiation, and metal nanoparticles presenting plasmonic effect and integrated in 3D porous carbon supports -materials with strong light absorbing features and thermal conductivity- inside the photoreactor. This configuration will allow solar irradiation to be concentrated, so as to reach temperatures of ca. 150-200 °C. Thus, the photo(thermo)reforming of the aqueous biomass-derived compounds solution to obtain clean hydrogen will operate under a continuous feed of the liquid solution into the CPC photoreactor which will instantaneously vaporize inside it. CLYOSPHERE proposes a technological alternative to water electrolysis to produce hydrogen and simultaneously oxidize biomass waste derived compounds dissolved in water by a moderate temperature photo(thermo)photocatalytic solar- driven process. CLYOSPHERE will demonstrate that the simultaneous partial oxidation of organic compounds from wastes is more efficient and more sustainable than current photocatalytic solutions based on overall water-splitting to produce green and affordable hydrogen using solar light. After optimization of the reactor and the catalysts, photoreforming assays will be carried out with aqueous solutions of waste biomass-derived organic compounds (e.g., oil mill wastewaters, glycerol from biomass processing) in outdoor irradiation conditions at the medium photonic flux reaching the south European countries (Sicily, Italy). While some studies in the literature have reported STH efficiencies over 9% water splitting under concentrated solar light mainly using critical raw materials and/or precious metals, the expectations of CLYOSPHERE solar H2 production with non CRM and non-noble metal-based photocatalysts are sustained by our previous studies at lab-scale using carbon nitride hybrid photocatalysts in non-optimized reactors. The optimisation of new photo(thermo)catalysts with adequate photoreactors are expected to push the target for solar photocatalysis beyond 5-10 %. Coupling the know-how of the partners in solar photoreactions (UNIPA, CSIC), materials synthesis and photocatalysis (UNIPA, CNRS, CSIC), and the expertise of the SMEs (APRIA) for the design and develop of novel concepts in photo(thermo)reactors, CLYOSPHERE has the necessary interdisciplinary cooperation to validate the technology proposed.