
Photosynthesis is a process that fuels life on our planet. It allows green plants to transforms water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates using exclusively the energy from sun. Could we mimic the process?
The EIC funded A-LEAF project developed a concept for a photo-electro-catalytic cell able to directly convert water and carbon dioxide into fuels, chemicals and oxygen - using exclusively solar energy.
Although solar cells have reached very good efficiencies in the transformation of sun irradiation into electricity at reasonable prices, transport and storage persist being the two major issues.
Fuels, on the other hand, do not suffer any energy loss while being transported or stored, which is one of the reasons why is so difficult to replace them.
The novel solution developed by the A-LEAF project lies in the direct transformation of sunlight into chemicals - exactly the same way as green plants and algae in nature are using photosynthesis.
As such, the project seeked to respond to the world's challenge of finding new sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel and also help reduce the carbon dioxide amount in the atmosphere.
They stated:
Our dream is to obtain economic sustainable fuels and chemicals. Fuels from sunlight, water and atmospheric CO2. Exclusively using carbon, silicon, iron, or copper. A-LEAF is working hard to make our dream come true
- Project duration
- -
- Project locations
- SpainAustriaFranceGermanyItalyNetherlandsSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom
- Overall budget
- €7.980.860
- EU contribution
- €7.980.860100% of the overall budget
- Project website
Stakeholders
Coordinators
FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICA
- Website
Participants
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
- Website
CONSORZIO INTERUNIVERSITARIO NAZIONALE PER LA SCIENZA E TECNOLOG
- Website
COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
- Website
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
- Website
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
- Website
FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBH
- Website
FUNDACION IMDEA NANOCIENCIA
- Website
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
- Website
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN
- Website
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADT
- Website
UNIVERSITAT JAUME I DE CASTELLON
- Website
UNIVERSITE DE MONTPELLIER
- Website
UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN
- Website