Sustainable Energy and Green Technologies

Next generation photovoltaics
Energy storage
Green and sustainable chemistry

DESCRIPTION

A transition to renewable and clean energy is imperative to curtail global warming and create a sustainable energy economy in the near future. This includes not only large-scale electricity generation but also requires energy storage and clean fuel systems. In addition, in order to satisfy global demand, the fabrication of these systems needs to be sustainable and satisfy green chemistry and engineering principles, including high efficiency, low energy investment, low payback time, abundant materials, and simple, safe and non-toxic processing. In CNATS, the main research efforts are in the following topics: 

a) Next generation photovoltaics:

Although silicon-based photovoltaic technology (PV) dominates large-scale solar electricity generation, there is a large potential for next-generation solutions for specific applications or improvement of current systems. For example, dye-sensitized solar cells are specifically attractive for building-integrated PV, both on the outside and on the inside. Specifically, the exceptional performance under low light intensity and indoor illumination is a main topic of research within CNATS. On the other hand, hybrid perovskite solar cells have shown a spectacular development and have reached efficiencies as high as those of silicon PV, and the wide range of architectures allows designs from indoor to outdoor, rigid to flexible, stand-alone of tandem systems. Key aspects of next-generation PV research include advanced characterization of loss processes, materials stability, and process modeling; these topics are under active investigation in CNATS. The high operating voltage that can be achieved is attractive for solar water splitting in a PV + electrolysis system.

b) Energy Storage

Related with the intermittency of solar irradiation, storage of renewable energy is required to provide clean energy at night, which can be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, batteries can be used to store electricity, molten salts or other materials to store energy in the form of heat, or hydrogen or other light fuels as storage as chemical energy. In CNATS we focus on conversion of solar energy by photolysis of water to form hydrogen using direct photoelectrochemical conversion. We search for new, stable, and abundant materials that can efficiently absorb sunlight and split water. Research encompasses both n-type and p-type semiconductors with emphasis on stable binary and ternary metal oxides. Advanced modeling and deep learning are also applied as important tools to advance in this important challenge.

c) Green and sustainable Chemistry

One of the specific challenges of the renewable energy revolution is the design of sustainable fabrication processes: in many cases, fabrication of solar energy conversion or storage systems requires relatively high energy consumption and a large quantity of specialized and sometimes scarce or expensive materials. Hence, it is essential to incorporate the concepts of sustainability, including end-of-life strategies and circular economy, from the inception of novel industrial processes. This is a very far-reaching subject, and in CNATS the focus lies on the use of abundant, non-toxic, easily available materials for high-quality conversion and storage systems. For this, we aim to combine machine learning and artificial intelligence strategies together with molecular simulations to identify promising new materials and potential applications.

Associated Staff

Next generation photovoltaics

Juan Antonio Anta Montalvo

 jaantmon@upo.es

Fundamental studies of nanomaterials for solar cells and photoconversion processes.

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Gerko Oskam

 gosk@upo.es

Conversion of solar energy into electricity and clean fuels: advanced materials, novel systems, process

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Jan Paul Pistor

 ppis@upo.es

Emerging Photovotaics – Advanced Characterization and Device Optimization

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Tania Isabel Lopes da Costa

 tlopcos@upo.es

Porous materials for biomedical applciations

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Patrick Jacques Merkling

 pjmerx@upo.es

Computer simulation of nanoporous materials

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María del Pilar Ortiz Calderon

 mportcal@upo.es

Diagnostic of materials of historic heritage

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Angel Rabdel Ruiz Salvador

 rruisal@upo.es

Development of tailored nanomaterials

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Salvador Rodriguez Gómez

 salrodgom@upo.es

Design, synthesis and characterization of crystalline (nanoporous) materials using molecular simulation techniques and experiments

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David Rodriguez Lucena

 drodluc@upo.es

Sensor Arrays using Luminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Optical Detection of Explosive Vapoursand Toxic Substances

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Francisco Javier Garcia Moscoso

 fgarciamoscoso@gmail.com

Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) deposited on polymeric membranes for the development of materials with sensing capacity.

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Javier Roales Batanero

 jroabat@upo.es

Gas detection systems based on dyes. Colorimetric expiration indicator devices. Analysis of the quality of olive oil through the use of electronic olfaction systems.

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Clara Patricia Aranda Alonso

 cparaalo@upo.es

Synthesis and Characterization of Wide bandgap Perovskite Photoconversion Devices

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Renan Andrés Escalante Quijano

 raescqui1@upo.es

Third generation solar cells. Photoelectrochemical characterization by small perturbation impedance

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Álvaro Rodríguez Rivas

 arodriguezrivas@upo.es

Soft Matter and statistitical mechanics

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Juan Carlos Exposito Galvez

 jcexpgal@upo.es

Photoelectrochemical study of abundant metal oxides for the conversion of solar energy into the clean fuel hydrogen (Water splitting)

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Patricia Sanchez Fernandez

 psanfer2@upo.es

Dye-sensitized solar cells and their limitations in indoor applications

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Mahmoud Nabil Hassan Mahmoud

 mnmah@upo.es

Third-generation solar cells and related nanomaterials

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Beatriz Eugenia Heredia Cervera

 bherediac@gmail.com

Carbon Perovskite Solar Cells

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Pablo Romero Llorente

 promllo@upo.es

Quantum Molecular Simulations and AI-Driven Force Field Prediction for Enhanced Solar Energy Conversion in Perovskites

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Energy storage

Ana Martin Calvo

 amarcal@upo.es

Molecular Simulation of Porous Materials for Environmental and Technological Applications

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Juan Antonio Anta Montalvo

 jaantmon@upo.es

Fundamental studies of nanomaterials for solar cells and photoconversion processes.

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Gerko Oskam

 gosk@upo.es

Conversion of solar energy into electricity and clean fuels: advanced materials, novel systems, process

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Juan José Gutiérrez Sevillano

 jjgutierrez@upo.es

Molecular Simulation Applied to the Study of Nanomaterials with Energy and Technological Interest

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José María Pedrosa Poyato

 jmpedpoy@upo.es

Porous nanomaterials for optical sensing and biomedical applications

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Manuel Jesús López Baroni

 mjlopbar1@upo.es

Ethics of emerging technologies. Bioethics

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Sofia Calero Diaz

 scalero@upo.es

Simulation and Modeling of Materials

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Juan Rigoberto Tejedo Huamán

 jrtejhua@upo.es

Supervivencia de la célula beta pancreática, diseño de terapias avanzadas para la diabetes y desarrollo de sistemas de diagnósticos point-on-care” para diversas enfermedades

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Ana Paula Zaderenko Partida

 apzadpar@upo.es

Nanoparticles for biomedical and environmental applications

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Angel Rabdel Ruiz Salvador

 rruisal@upo.es

Development of tailored nanomaterials

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Salvador Rodriguez Gómez

 salrodgom@upo.es

Design, synthesis and characterization of crystalline (nanoporous) materials using molecular simulation techniques and experiments

More information

David Rodriguez Lucena

 drodluc@upo.es

Sensor Arrays using Luminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Optical Detection of Explosive Vapoursand Toxic Substances

More information

Francisco Javier Garcia Moscoso

 fgarciamoscoso@gmail.com

Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) deposited on polymeric membranes for the development of materials with sensing capacity.

More information

Javier Roales Batanero

 jroabat@upo.es

Gas detection systems based on dyes. Colorimetric expiration indicator devices. Analysis of the quality of olive oil through the use of electronic olfaction systems.

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Juan Jesús Romero Guerrero

 juanjesus.romero.guerrero@gmail.com

MOFs based devices for environmental and nanotechnology applications.

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Daniel Ruiz Alonso

 danielruiz.machado@gmail.com

My line of research is centered around the use of MOFs as a drug transport system.

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Green and sustainable chemistry

Ana Martin Calvo

 amarcal@upo.es

Molecular Simulation of Porous Materials for Environmental and Technological Applications

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Juan Antonio Anta Montalvo

 jaantmon@upo.es

Fundamental studies of nanomaterials for solar cells and photoconversion processes.

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Maria de la Menta Ballesteros Martin

 mmbalmar@upo.es

Nanomaterials for environmental applications

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Said Hamad Gomez

 said@upo.es

Prediction of materials useful in energy generation processes

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Alejandro Cuetos Menendez

 acuemen@upo.es

Modelling and computer  simulation of complex fluids and soft condensed matter.

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Bruno Martínez Haya

 bmarhay@upo.es

Supramolecular Chemistry, Proton bonding, Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry

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Gerko Oskam

 gosk@upo.es

Conversion of solar energy into electricity and clean fuels: advanced materials, novel systems, process

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Juan José Gutiérrez Sevillano

 jjgutierrez@upo.es

Molecular Simulation Applied to the Study of Nanomaterials with Energy and Technological Interest

More information

José María Pedrosa Poyato

 jmpedpoy@upo.es

Porous nanomaterials for optical sensing and biomedical applications

More information

Manuel Jesús López Baroni

 mjlopbar1@upo.es

Ethics of emerging technologies. Bioethics

More information

Sofia Calero Diaz

 scalero@upo.es

Simulation and Modeling of Materials

More information

Juan Rigoberto Tejedo Huamán

 jrtejhua@upo.es

Supervivencia de la célula beta pancreática, diseño de terapias avanzadas para la diabetes y desarrollo de sistemas de diagnósticos point-on-care” para diversas enfermedades

More information

Ana Paula Zaderenko Partida

 apzadpar@upo.es

Nanoparticles for biomedical and environmental applications

More information

Angel Rabdel Ruiz Salvador

 rruisal@upo.es

Development of tailored nanomaterials

More information

Salvador Rodriguez Gómez

 salrodgom@upo.es

Design, synthesis and characterization of crystalline (nanoporous) materials using molecular simulation techniques and experiments

More information

David Rodriguez Lucena

 drodluc@upo.es

Sensor Arrays using Luminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Optical Detection of Explosive Vapoursand Toxic Substances

More information

Francisco Javier Garcia Moscoso

 fgarciamoscoso@gmail.com

Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) deposited on polymeric membranes for the development of materials with sensing capacity.

More information

Javier Roales Batanero

 jroabat@upo.es

Gas detection systems based on dyes. Colorimetric expiration indicator devices. Analysis of the quality of olive oil through the use of electronic olfaction systems.

More information

Juan Jesús Romero Guerrero

 juanjesus.romero.guerrero@gmail.com

MOFs based devices for environmental and nanotechnology applications.

More information

Daniel Ruiz Alonso

 danielruiz.machado@gmail.com

My line of research is centered around the use of MOFs as a drug transport system.

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Noelia Rodriguez Sanchez

 noeliarsanchez29898@gmail.com

Synthesis of nanomaterials for wastewater treatment

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Beatriz Eugenia Heredia Cervera

 bherediac@gmail.com

Carbon Perovskite Solar Cells

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Other Research Projects

Biotechnology and Environmental Applications

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Computational Nanoscience and Technology

Acceder