Autonomous light tracking system containing well-developed photocatalysts for enhanced nitrate reduction to ammonia generation

Nitrate reduction to ammonia (NRA) is a very recent yet effective strategy to convert NO3- into NH3 at ambient conditions.  It is a promising alternative for the Haber-Bosch process and as such an important step to realizing a fully carbon-neutral Europe. By employing density functional theory calculations, the first aim of this project is to screen different NRA catalysts (e.g., transition metal compounds), investigate the relationship between NRA properties and various catalyst modification strategies, and unveil NRA mechanisms on different activated surfaces. Based on these insights, highly efficient NRA photocatalysts will be developed. Due to the poor use of light energy in a traditional photocatalytic system, we will combine the new photocatalysts with an autonomous light tracking (ALT) system. Our ATL is based on a highly oriented hydrogel structure.  To fabricate rapidly responsive ALT photocatalytic systems, which can fully use the light energy and maintain maximal photocatalytic NRA efficiency by keeping optimal alignment between its top surface and incident light, we will employ a combination of 3D printing, bi-directional freeze-drying, and UV polymerization. Furthermore, for exploring the potential of industrial application of the ALT photocatalytic system, scalable “artificial water plants” will be assembled with self-healing and transplantable properties that enable them to meet extreme environments and different photocatalytic reactions.