About M-ERA NET

M-ERA.NET is an EU-funded network that has been established to support and increase the coordination of European research programmes and related funding in materials science and engineering.

The M-ERA.NET consortium will contribute to the restructuring of the European Research Area (ERA) by operating as a single innovative and flexible network of funding organisations.

Project Title: Photo-electrochemical Hydrogen Generation Integrated with Photo-chargeable Zinc Ion Battery   

Project Acronym: PECZIB  

Project Coordinator: TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Turkiye

Contact Persons: Prof. Nurdan Demirci Sankır (PI) and Prof. Mehmet Sankır (Co-PI)

Partners:

Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland

Contact Persons: Dr. Mykola Pavlenko (PI) and Prof. Igor Iatsunskyi (Co-PI)

National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Romania

Contact Persons: Dr. Arpad Mihai Rostas, Dr. Maria Mihet (team member)

Sabanci University, Turkiye

Contact Person: Prof. Emre Erdem

Abstract:

In this project, novel heterojunction thin film electrode-based photo-electrochemical (PEC) water-splitting devices integrated with photo-chargeable zinc ion batteries (photo-ZIB) will be developed to provide hydrogen (H2) in a clean, sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective way. The bias potential required by the system to be produced is met by photo-ZIB, which can be directly charged by sunlight. Specifically, we propose to make heterojunctions of zinc oxide nanostructure with kesterite-type and chalcogenide-type semiconductor thin films for highly efficient PEC reactions. Besides, compositionally complex ceramics will be used to improve the photo-anodes' stability and catalytic activity. Dark cathodes based on high-entropy ceramics will be obtained to provide a cost-effective alternative to current technology. Thus, it aims to design an innovative device that can be an alternative to the classically used photovoltaic solar cell-electrolyzer systems in terms of cost and efficiency.

Schematic diagram of the single-cell photo-ZIB/PEC device, and Partners' main responsibilities.