As China and Europe gather key expertise to make solar fuels a reality, the METHASOL project is based on five existing strong EU-China cooperation: ICL and DICP (e.g. on transient optical spectroscopies to measure charge carrier kinetics), MPIKG and FZU (e.g. Joint International Laboratory which was followed by a DFG- NSC Program for four years), MPIKG and WHUT, UPV and FZU (incl. five joint papers and exchange of materials), EPFL and NKU. Together, all partners will strengthen inter-continent collaboration during the project and ensure the durability of the collaboration between EU and China on the topic of photocatalytic production of renewable fuels.

METHASOL partners will design photocatalytic reactors that enable the optimal photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) to methanol at standard conditions of pressure and temperature. Two designs will be investigated: a single chamber reactor in gas phase, and a two-compartment reactor with gas phase for CO₂RR to methanol and liquid phase for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER).

METHASOL partners will exploit Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as photocatalysts, together with an appropriate Cu-based co-catalysts for tuning the selectivity of the CO₂RR reaction towards methanol (one of the main challenges of METHASOL). For optimal charge separation, the structure of MOFs will be optimised using inter alia computational predictions. To enhance CO₂RR light harvesting, partners will use carbon quantum dots (CQDs) that have shown their durable performances (creation of CQDs-MOFs@Cu complexes). For greater performance, the band gap will be tuned to the adequate values.

METHASOL partners will develop an optimised gas phase OER system built out of the carbon nitride family (CN), playing the role of both light harvester and photocatalyst with a tunable band gap. Its optimisation will be realised thanks to advanced quantum calculations, operando transient optical analyses of charge transfer, charge carrier lifetimes and catalysis kinetics that will allow to build reliable structure-activity relationships. The optimal catalysts will be selected considering properties such as water binding and surface area. Finally, partners will consider addition of an OER co-catalyst for optimising further OER evolution rates.

The METHASOL project will develop a complete photocatalytic system with optimised Z-scheme heterojunction by assembling CO₂RR and OER photocatalysts, optimised thanks to a unique computational tool developed during the project, combining advanced quantum and force-field based simulations. To mitigate risks and achieve the best performance possible, two strategies will be used (in line with the two designs mentioned above), 1/ an heterojunction without mediator and 2/ an heterojunction with mediator, a thin metal layer that will foster electron conductivity while avoiding degradation of yield due to poisonous reactions.

METHASOL partners will ensure the sustainability of their system by 1/ taking into account environmental aspects through life cycle assessment (LCA), 2/ assessing the social and societal impacts, in particular the European and Chinese independence gains in fuel production, jobs creation, social acceptance of the CO₂ streams coming from urban systems and of the new technology, and 3/ analysing the economic relevance of the solution compared to current production processes in both European and Chinese contexts.

The pathway for the project to reach industrialisation will be paved by an exploitation and a business plan. To foster the progress of the technology to higher TRLs, MI will support partners in the creation of an International Industrial Board (IIB) with global actors of the chemical and fuel industry with interests in solar methanol production. A common roadmap will be created to take the technologies to TRL9 less than 7 years after the end of the project.

Duration: July 2021 – November 2021

The aim of this WP is to prepare the technical developments and seamless component integration in the project. This will include the study of the required constraints to build a tandem CO₂RR/OER device, the realisation of a more advanced sketch of overall system, an update on the state of the art, and the description of technical specifications (operating conditions and test protocols).

Duration: October 2021 – February 2022

This WP aims to design, synthetise and characterise robust photoactive MOFs based composites and g-CN materials, evaluate separately their catalytic properties for CO₂RR and OER respectively, and finally assess their chemical and thermal stability under operating conditions. The outcome of this WP is the down-selection the best performing CO₂RR and OER photocatalysts to be further analysed in WP3 prior to their optimisation in WP4.

Duration: March 2022 – June 2024

The aim of this WP is to analyse the physico-chemical characteristics (electronic, optical, spectroscopic) of the best performing WP2 materials, revealing the key catalyst descriptors which are the origin of their OER and CO₂RR performances, and optimising this level of performances by formulating concrete design guidelines towards advanced materials for WP4 (establishment of reliable structure-activity relationships). The advanced materials delivered by WP4 will be equally characterised in order to deepen the understanding, train and further refine the computational predictions.

Duration: December 2022 – March 2024

This WP aims to synthetise a second set of advanced materials based on the findings and trends of WP2 and as supported and guided by WP3. Their photo-electronic and catalytic activities and stability under operation for CO₂RR and OER (primary characterisation) will be investigated in order to select candidates with the best performances. The best materials will be transferred to WP5 for integration in Z-scheme reactors and reviewed in WP3.

Duration: February 2022 – November 2024

The aim of this WP is to integrate in a small-scale prototype all components for CO₂RR and OER through a Z-scheme heterojunction, and then assess its performances through stress tests. Two cycles of advanced characterisation and tests are expected: one for materials transferred from WP2 and another with refined materials from WP4. Two types of heterostructured photocatalysts (with/without mediator) will be considered.

Duration: December 2022 – December 2024

This WP aims to develop and implement a common framework for international societal, market and environmental analysis. The societal, environmental and economic impacts of the solution on the total carbon cycle will be determined, and its relevance in the context of global warming will be assessed, as well as its market horizons on mid-long term.

Duration: All along the project

The aim of this WP is to ensure the long-lasting collaboration between EU and China/USA on the topic of solar renewable fuels produced by photocatalytic way. To that purpose, partners will create and implement a research and industrial cluster on photocatalysis between EU and China in order to determine the roadmap to TRL9 for the solution.

Duration: All along the project

This WP aims at ensuring that the project results have the highest impact by highlighting its advances and structure.

Duration: All along the project

The aims of this WP are to ensure the seamless coordination and management of the project making optimal use of the project resources, to provide the best chance to the partners to jointly achieve the project’s objectives.