Resumen
The decarbonation of several sectors (energy, transport, carbon intensive industries like steel or
ammonia) is depending on the availability of low carbon hydrogen. However, current hydrogen
production processes are mostly carbonated, and existing decarbonated processes suffer from several
disadvantages (high costs, issues for coupling with intermittent electricity, etc.). The MOF2H2
project positions itself as a game changer to produce hydrogen from water through a more
sustainable process: photocatalytic overall water splitting using non-noble materials. Built upon a
breakthrough discovery made by ESPCT and UPV recently patented, MOF2H2 aims to develop a
world-record efficiency for sun-driven clean hydrogen production reaching 5% solar-to-hydrogen
efficiency, using metal organic framework (MOF) as photocatalysts. To this end, MOF2H2 will gather
1O partners (and affiliated entities) for 36 months, including some of the best researchers in the
world in their fields, for demonstrating three lab-scale photocatalysis prototypes with fine-tuned
materials dedicated to hydrogen production, hence reaching TRL4. After having a clear vision of
overall specifications through WP1, a first-generation MOF will be synthetised and optimised
through metal nanoparticles co-deposition in WP2, also guided by modelling and advanced
characterisation from WP3. To reach even higher efficiencies, a refined MOF will be produced in WP4
following metal/ ligand substitution. The MOF synthesis will be optimised and upscaled under
sustainable and economically viable conditions in WP5, and followed by MOFs integration in a
lab-scale demonstrator, for showing the reliability of their operation at lab-scale and their long-
term performance. A complete sustainability and an economic potential assessment will be conducted
in WP6. Through a tailored ion and communication strategy elaborated in WP7, the project is
expected to have a high impact on both the academic and
industrial sectors.
