By permission of the project coordinator
Description of what the ALEAF project is based on
Mimicking the photosynthetic function of green plants and algae is one of the major technological challenges scientist around the world are facing nowadays.
Natural photosynthesis transforms water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen and carbohydrates using exclusively the energy of the sun. An artificial photosynthesis scheme will work in an analogous way, absorbing sunlight to combine water and CO2 into oxygen and chemicals, including fuels.
The A-Leaf project seeks the realization of an artificial photosynthesis platform for the capture and transformation of solar energy into chemical energy, as sustainable substitute for fossil resources.
DG CNECT in collaboration with DG RTD and DG ENER organises a FET seminar on Thursday 15th March 2018 from 2:30 to 5:00 at room COV2 15/SDR1, REA, Covent Garden building, Place Rogier, 16, 1000 Brussels.
The seminar is open to everyone. It will be the perfect occassion to get to know what the latest advances in artificial photosynthesis are.Please note that registration at Coven Garden reception is compulsory; please bring your ID with you. Allow 30 minutes before the seminar for completing registration. As the number of seats is limited, please let us know by email at CNECT-FETPROACT@ec.europa.eu at least 1 week before the seminar - 8th March 2018 - if you plan to attend. You will be then contacted to provide us a few personal details. Confirmation will only be done after these details have been received!.
Background
Dr. J. R. Galan-Mascaros holds a Degree in Chemistry from the University of Valencia and Imperial College London, and a PhD from the University of Valencia in materials science (1999). Between 1999 and 2002 he was post-doctoral researcher at Texas A&M University (College Station, USA) working with Prof. Kim R. Dunbar. As associated researcher at University of Valencia (2002-2009), he established novel strategies for building up multifunctionality in hybrid/composite molecular materials. In 2010, he became ICREA Research Professor at ICIQ, where he currently leads a research group focused on future applications of coordination chemistry for Renewable Energies and Materials Sciences. Galan-Mascaros has received several awards, including the Olivier Kahn International Award (2008) and an ERC Starting Grant (2012-2016). He is currently the coordinator of the A-LEAF project (2017-2020): a major European public investment for the realization of a viable artificial photosynthesis platform.
Artificial photosynthesis: From basic principles to technological impact
"Our A-LEAF initiative is an ambitious project, funded by FET, with the aim to design and develop a fully functional scheme to transform sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into useful, sustainable and environmentally neutral fuels and fine chemicals. We have gathered a truly multidisciplinary consortium to cover all scientific expertise needed to overcome the major challenges: physicists to achieve sunlight capture; surface scientists to use this energy to oxidize water, extracting protons and electrons; electrochemists to use these equivalents to reduce carbon dioxide into useful stock; and system engineers to implement and fine-tune all components into a viable and cost-effective process. In addition to the general scientific challenge, we have committed to use exclusively scalable processes, earth abundant non-critical materials and inexpensive platforms. Only with these added values we may dream of bringing artificial photosynthesis to the future Energy pull, where societal impact is the ultimate target."
Map / Location
Brussels