PhD position - EPSRC DTP - SPHERA (Sono-Photocatalysis for Hydrogen Engendering through Reactor Automation)

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 UK Hydrogen Strategy, the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, the European Green Deal, Europe’s clean energy transition and the Agenda - SRIA. In this scenario, the project SPHERA 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.

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 design and develop a new generation of hybrid and smart sono-photocatalitic reactors characterized by the integration of ultrasonic irradiation, ultraviolet/visible radiation (UV/VIS-light) and a photocatalyst. The reactor will be driven by an electronic system with making-decision capabilities in order to control both operations and the whole process for the generation of H2.

The idea behind this approach is that such a system elaborates in real-time a number of input information obtained by the sensor network and return the most efficient H2 production procedure (switching on/off or adapting power delivered to some actuators, changing the actuation signal, switching from pulsed to continuous working mode etc.). This means developing an intelligent, automatic and fine control of the H2 production process allowing energy-saving as well. Moreover, because the large-scale diffusion of clean hydrogen production systems (green H2) is linked to the improvement of conversion efficiency and the availability of electrical power from renewable energy sources (RES), SPHERA explores the potential of the proposed technology, assisted by RES, to contribute to a virtuous cycle for the future H2 production. To achieve its goals, SPHERA will follow a multidisciplinary approach combining numerical model-based design with lab- and bench-scale experimentation to identify the optimal reactor design. The project receives support from the Institute for advanced energy technologies "Nicola Giordano" (ITAE), belonging to the National Research Council of Italy, with regard to all aspects of photocatalysis.