SUNAPPLIGHT: Tailored multifunctional nanophotocatalytic devices: a tactic-to-practice greenway for capture and conversion of CO₂

Extended project summary:

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is widely accepted as the primary driver of the greenhouse effect and global temperature increase. Burning fossil fuels is the main source of non-natural CO₂ emissions, leading to a significant increase in the concentration of this gas in the atmosphere. Most current research is focused on alternative energy sources, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and the use of CO₂ as a C1 building block in chemical synthesis (CCU). Methanol, one of the products obtained from CO₂ and hydrogen (H₂), has great potential as a renewable fuel and can significantly reduce carbon emissions. However, the high stability of CO₂ limits these applications to high-energy and high-cost strategies.

Nature has been a source of inspiration for many researchers seeking to reduce CO₂ by simulating photosynthesis. Since the first report of H₂ production from water using light by Fujishima and Honda in 1972, H₂ production and CO₂ conversion with semiconductor materials have gained attention. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the use of metals on the surface of a semiconductor reduces many limitations by sensitizing it and improving its light absorption capacity.

SUNAPPLIGHT proposes to develop new nanostructured materials with gold nanoparticle-decorated surfaces to activate and convert CO₂ into methanol using solar light. This approach offers a green and sustainable method to enhance current CCS and CCU strategies by combining frontier chemistry and high-impact science for the benefit of society. Focused on environmental challenges such as global warming, SUNAPPLIGHT offers a personalized, scalable, and implementable solution in the short term to improve quality of life and public safety.