PROJECT TITLE: Core@void@shell nanoarchitectures for visible-light-driven dual-functional photocatalysis
PROJECT ACRONYM: NANOARHITECT
FOUNDING SOURCE: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI) within PNCDI III
PROJECT CODE: PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-0444
CONTRACT NUMBER: TE 88
PROJECT DURATION: 24 months (13.05.2022 – 10.05.2024)
PROJECT BUDGET: 450.000 RON
PROJECT SUMMARY: For generations, the global energy and environmental sectors have had to cope with the depletion of natural resources due to the increasing growth of the world’s population, the rise of industrial actions, and the fossil-fuel-based economy. It is, thus, indispensable to rapidly construct new and clean energy systems to overcome the issues of intensive pollution abatement and the ineffectiveness of the most frequently applied conventional processes for green hydrogen production. The main aim of the project is to consolidate a research team and an independent research program focused on the design and development of multifunctional core@void@shell nanoheterostructures as new architectural model materials ideally suited for visible-light-driven dual-functional photocatalysis. Filling two-goals-with-one-action, NANOARHITECT project will lay the foundations on a unique opportunity to firstly develop these innovative techniques from the ground up in an ambitious project such as this to inspire new approaches on old problems in photocatalysis with expected research outputs that will make a positive contribution to the European excellence research area.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of NANOARHITECT project is to foster an integrated research approach focused on the design and development of multifunctional core@void@shell nanoarchitectures towards visible light dual-functional photocatalysis for environmental and energy applications. Besides the general objective, NANOARHITECT will smoothly run along the route defined in this two-fold strategy of sustainable hydrogen production accompanied by the oxidative degradation of pharmaceutical drugs pollutants in a single process, achieving all defined targets and eventually going further based on the following specific objectives: (SO1) development of fundamental materials based on the synergistic combination of different types of flower-like composite core Al;Rh;La:SrTiO3/Cc (Cc: FeOOH, NiOOH and FexNi1-xOOH) entrapped in SiO2 matrix to generate innovative core@void@shell nanoarchitectures Al;Rh;La:SrTiO3/Fe2O3;NiO2;FexNi1-xOy@void@SiO2 with enhanced visible light adsorption, highly effective active sites exposed and optimized mass transport to (SO2) acquire of fundamental knowledge around dual-functional photocatalysis by boosting the photocatalytic activity in all dimensions.
EXPECTED RESULTS: The research output of the NANOARHITECT project is centered on increasing the knowledge and understanding about, multifunctional core@void@shell nanoarchitectures and also on applying this knowledge to create new ideas and approaches with potential applications in dual-purpose photocatalysis. The research and outreach activities will generate results which will: (i) create and consolidate a multidisciplinary research team which might be potentially extended towards an interdisciplinary research network; (ii) provide the national and international scientific community with functional design principles of nanoarchitectures photocatalysts concerning improved long term stability and photocatalytic turnover; (iii) link academic partners with industrial research in this rapidly developing field, thereby, providing the necessary instruments to assure rapid exploitation of new knowledge in the field to actual products and applications; (iv) raise public awareness on the emerging concepts in (photo)chemical energetics and provide the public with relevant information and understanding of various ways of clean and sustainable hydrogen production.
ACHIEVED RESULTS
Publications:
1. Daniel Gherca, Marieta Porcescu, Daniel-Dumitru Herea, Horia Chiriac, Nicoleta Lupu, Gabriela Buema, Superior Efficacies Adsorptions on Hydrotalcite-like compound as Dual-functional Clay Nanomaterial for Heavy Metals and Anionic Dyes, Volume 233, 1 March 2023, 106841, DOI: 10.1016/j.clay.2023.106841 Applied Clay Science, (IF2022 = 5.6, Top 2 / Q1).
2. Adrian Iulian Borhan, Daniel-Dumitru Herea, Marius-Adrian Husanu, Dana-Georgeta Popescu, Camelia Nicoleta Borca, Thomas Huthwelker, Alin Constantin Dirtu, Daniela Dirtu, Carmen Mita, George Stoian, Gabriel Ababei, Nicoleta Lupu, Aurel Pui and Daniel Gherca, Straightforward FeOOH Nanografting of Al based SrTiO3 perovskite materials as core-shell nanoflower-like heteronanostructure with enhanced solar light-driven photodegradation capability, Volume 614, 30 March 2023, 156247, DOI:10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.156247, Applied Surface Science, (IF2022 = 6.7, Top 1 / Q1).
3. Adrian Iulian Borhan, Adrian Iulian Ghemes, Marius-Adrian Husanu, Dana-Georgeta Popescu, Camelia Nicoleta Borca, Thomas Huthwelker, Ioana Radu, Alin Constantin Dirtu, Daniela Dirtu, Georgiana Bulai, Nicoleta Lupu, Mircea Nicolae Palamaru, Alexandra-Raluca Iordan, Daniel Gherca, Carbon-based heterostructure from multi-photo-active nanobuilding blocks SrTiO3@NiFe2O4@Fe0@Ni0@CNTs with derived nanoreaction metallic clusters for enhanced solar light-driven photodegradation of harmful antibiotics, Volume 622, 15 June 2023, 156987, Applied Surface Science, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.156987 (IF2022 = 6.7, Top 1 / Q1).
4. Daniel Gherca, Gabriela Buema, Anca Emanuela Minuti, Adrian Iulian Borhan, Camelia Nicoleta Borca, Daniela Dirtu, Alin Constantin Dirtu, Marius Dobromir, George Stoian, Gabriel Ababei, Horia Chiriac, Nicoleta Lupu, Oana-Georgiana Dragos-Pinzaru , Investigating the Adsorption Behavior of Congo Red Dye on MgAl Layered Double Hydroxide: A Complementary Analytical Study, under review at ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, (IF2022 = 8.4, Q1).
5. Ioana Radu; Adrian Iulian Borhan; Daniel Ghercă; Alin Constantin Dirtu; Daniela Dirtu; Dana-Goergeta Popescu; Marius-Adrian Husanu and Aurel Pui, Cobalt oxyhydroxide co-catalyst loaded onto Al:SrTiO3 surface to boost photocatalytic performance, under review at Materials Research Bulletin, (IF2022 = 5.4, Q2).
Conference presentations:
1. Tiberiu Roman, Gabriela Buema, Nicoleta Lupu, Horia Chiriac, Daniel Ghercă; Optimisation of Al:SrTiO3 formation through solid-state reaction: an x-ray overview; EmergeMAT 5th International conference on emerging technologies in materials engineering; 20-21 October 2022, Bucharest, Romania.
2. Daniel Ghercă, Gabriela Buema, Adrian-Iulian Borhan, Nicoleta Lupu, Horia Chiriac, Tiberiu Roman; Versatile FeOOH nano-compartmentalization of Al, Rh co-doped SrTiO3 perovskite with enhanced solar light-driven photocatalytic efficiency; EmergeMAT 5th International conference on emerging technologies in materials engineering; 20-21 October 2022, Bucharest, Romania.
3. Gabriela Buema, Nicoleta Lupu, Horia Chiriac, Tiberiu Roman, Daniel Ghercă; Removal of anionic Congo red dye from aqueous solution using Al:SrTiO3; EmergeMAT 5th International conference on emerging technologies in materials engineering; 20-21 October 2022, Bucharest, Romania.
4. Gabriela Buema, Nicoleta Lupu, Horia Chiriac, Marieta Porcescu, George Stoian, Daniel Ghercă; Effect of contact time and adsorbent dosage in removing cobalt ion from aqueous solution; EmergeMAT 5th International conference on emerging technologies in materials engineering; 20-21 October 2022, Bucharest, Romania.
5. Gabriela Buema, Adrian-Iulian Borhan, George Stoian, Gabriel Ababei, Horia Chiriac, Nicoleta Lupu and Daniel Gherca; Designing perovskite based nanoarchitectural dual-functional photocatalysts for water splitting coupled with degradation of active pharmaceutical ingredients; EmergeMAT 6th International conference on emerging technologies in materials engineering; 09-10 November 2023, Bucharest, Romania.
6. Daniel Gherca, Nicoleta Lupu, Horia Chiriac, Marieta Porcescu, George Stoian, Gabriel Ababei, Gabriela Buema. Evaluation of layered double hydroxides as adsorbents for water cleanup technology; EmergeMAT 6th International conference on emerging technologies in materials engineering; 09-10 November 2023, Bucharest, Romania.
7. Gabriela Buema, George Stoian, Gabriel Ababei, Adrian-Iulian Borhan, Daniel Gherca and Nicoleta Lupu; Development of aliovalent doped SrTiO3 adsorbent for Congo red removal: impact of dye concentration; OPROTEH 2024, 19th International Conference of Constructive Design and Technological Optimization in Machine Building; 22-24 May 2024, Bacau, Romania.
Workshops:
1. Gabriela Buema - Advanced Photocatalysis for Water Splitting and Purification- Experimental Rational Design and Synthesis of Advanced Core@Shell Nanoarchitectures Unisense In-Person Workshop, 24-26 Ianuarie 2023, Aarhus, Danemarca.
2. Daniel Gherca - Advanced Photocatalysis for Water Splitting and Purification- FeOOH nano-compartmentalized Al, Rh co-doped SrTiO3 Perovskite type photocatalyst with enhanced solar light-driven water splitting; Unisense In-Person Workshop, 24-26 Ianuarie 2023, Aarhus, Danemarca.
3. Gabriela Buema - Online Microsensor Workshop, organizator UNISENSE, 13-15 Martie 2023
4. Daniel Gherca - Online Microsensor Workshop, organizator UNISENSE, 13-15 Martie 2023
CONTACT DETAILS:
Project Coordinator:
Daniel Gherca, Ph.D.
National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics – IFT Iasi
Address: 47 Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Tel.: +40-232-430680
Fax: +40-232-231132
Mobile: +40 744 159864
E-mail: dgherca@phys-iasi.ro
PROJECT TEAM:
Adrian-Iulian Borhan, Ph.D.
National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics - IFT, Iasi
Address: 47 Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Tel.: +40-232-430680
Fax: +40-232-231132
E-mail: aborhan@phys-iasi.ro
Gabriela Buema, Ph.D.
National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics - IFT, Iasi
Address: 47 Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Tel.: +40-232-430680
Fax: +40-232-231132
Mobile: +40 733 046959
E-mail: gbuema@phys-iasi.ro
Tiberiu Roman, Ph.D.
National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics - IFT, Iasi
Address: 47 Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Tel.: +40-232-430680
Fax: +40-232-231132
E-mail: troman@phys-iasi.ro
Gabriel Ababei, Ph.D.
National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics - IFT, Iasi
Address: 47 Mangeron Boulevard, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Tel.: +40-232-430680
Fax: +40-232-231132
E-mail: gababei@phys-iasi.ro