The Solar-driven Chemistry network has settled a call for projects on how to harness solar energy. Funding was awarded to a Polish project led by Prof. Joanna Kargul from the Centre for New Technologies at the University of Warsaw.

Prof. Kargul will coordinate a consortium comprising teams of Polish, French, German and Turkish researchers in the SUNCOCAT project: Rational design of efficient energy and charge transfer in biophototelelectrodes for direct conversion of CO2 into fuel.

The researchers will carry out nanoscale engineering work on electron and energy transfer pathways, with the ultimate aim of working with partners to develop efficient biophotoelectrodes that will contribute to significantly improved capture of solar energy and conversion into renewable fuel.

The researchers aim to achieve the highest possible energy conversion efficiency by using research methods from different scientific fields: electrochemical studies, modelling via quantum/molecular mechanics of electron transfer, genetic and biophysical methods. Work is scheduled to start in early 2023.