Heterogeneous photocatalytic processes: hydrogen production, water and air purification

The impact of the proposed research on the science and scientific community is high. The new important scientific results are expected from: - development of new types of materials and their application in photocatalytic process - studies of the structural, electronic and photocatalytic charcteristics of new catalysts - synthesis of nano-powders with controlled morphology - understanding an influence of morphology, composition, polymorph characteristic and particle size on photocatalytic activity - understanding of the photo-catalytic processes on the surface of the catalyst - development of the microreactor design for hydrogen conversion Finally, we believe that we can produce the photocatalysts and the photocatalytic process with characteristics that are superior to today’s systems. This would be technologically very important but would also represent an important scientific achievement. An active scientific communication is foreseen to be established, which will give basis for a proper idea and expertise exchange on the field of photocatalysis. This will bring into the proposed new programme a synergy with other groups around the world, which are intensively involved in this topic. The programme partners have committed themselves to timely publish the results in high-ranking scientific journals and, so, disseminate the produced results and demonstrate the quality of the research.

Because of the environmental and energetic problems, which we are facing on a daily basis, use of »clean« energy sources that would have no impact on our environment is crucially important for a further sustainable development. The new clean energy sources should not pollute air and water or contribute to global warming. This fact combined with a highly volatile price of oil and uncomfortable energetic dependence on small number of oil producers induced a strategic orientation in a development and use of alternative energy sources in many countries. One of these alternative energy sources is hydrogen. Slovenia could develop a technology for a production of its own energy source – hydrogen – and in the future appear as energetically independent or even hydrogen exporter. In addition to obvious economic impact an application of the hydrogen technology induces many positive side effects that range from increased living standard, increased interest in natural and technical sciences and strengthening of national identity through technological promotion of the country. The development of the hydrogen technologies is still in an early stage and the countries that will follow or even contribute to this development will have an important comparative advantage and become the main players in the field of new energy sources. Strategic orientation in this field could assure a significant socio-economic development and, consequently, a development in other segments such as social care, education, culture...