The increasing global crisis of energy shortage and environmental issues are becoming serious threats to the long-term development of human society. Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has emerged predominantly as it is considered a costless, renewable, clean, and safe technology, which requires only the inexhaustible solar light as a driving force, and a suitable semiconductor as a photocatalyst to promote H₂ production from water. H₂ is an appealing storable energy source because its conversion in fuel cells efficiently generates energy, releasing water as the only by-product. The development of innovative procedures both to produce and store green H₂ in a safe and efficient way is strongly required. The photocatalytic route for hydrogen gas retrieving goes through the keywords of greenness, safety, renewability, efficiency, circular economy and sustainability.

The project aims to green H₂ production via water splitting and photoreforming in the energy-environmental field by an analytical approach. New organic and inorganic catalysts active under sunlight are being studied, developing and optimizing photocatalytic systems for the production of H₂ from waste water and biomass, with the aim of combining the valorisation of waste biomass from the agri-food sector with clean production and low environmental impact of H₂.

Collaborations: Prof. Malavasi, Prof. Ferretti