Project Details
Projekt
Photoflow reactor design for hydrogels – towards scalable noble metal-free light-driven hydrogen evolution (T01#)
Subject Area
Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 364549901
During the first two funding phases of CATALIGHT, different soft matter matrices have been successfully investigated for both light-driven hydrogen (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). Among those, polyampholytic hydrogels are very appealing as they allow both facile loading with catalytically active building blocks, repair of degraded catalysts, and straightforward handling. In addition, their transparent nature enables different characterization methods for mechanistic studies and to elucidate degradation mechanisms. Together with our industry partner Redeem Solar Technologies, the aim of this transfer project is to develop suitable photoreactors for use with the above-mentioned hydrogels. For this, the established platform of flow photoreactors, which is currently mainly used for homogeneous or heterogeneous solutions, will be modified so that hydrogels can be efficiently perfused, the amount of generated hydrogen can be quantified, and in operando analytics with partners within CATALIGHT will allow monitoring of degradation processes, eventual leaching, or repair strategies. Concerning the combination of catalyst/sensitizer to be loaded into the hydrogels, we will start with the well-established [Mo3S13]2- / [Ru(bpy)3]2+ system as benchmark, but from early stages also move to noble metal-free rylene-based sensitizers as has been recently established. Besides the development of photoreactors for catalytically active hydrogels, this project will further evaluate the scalability of this approach by using photoreactors of varying size and irradiation geometry, and investigate which water quality (e.g., considering ionic strength and the presence of salts as model pollutants) can be used for the desired reactions. With that, we will on one hand broaden the portfolio of photoreactors on the market (Redeem), but also evaluate the scalability of hydrogel-based soft matter matrices within CATALIGHT and provide a blueprint for photoreactors for different projects within CATALIGHT.
DFG Programme
CRC/Transregios (Transfer Project)
Subproject of
TRR 234:
Light-driven Molecular Catalysts in Hierarchically Structured Materials – Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies
International Connection
Austria
Applicant Institution
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Co-Applicant Institution
Universität Ulm
Business and Industry
Reedem Solar Technologies GmbH
