Energy & Fuels

Chemical Looping Ammonia Synthesis has been developed as a promising ammonia production route, offering minimal reliance on fossil fuels, enhanced process conditions, flexibility and potential for renewable energy integration. Chemical Looping Ammonia Synthesis (CLAS) typically operates by decomposing the overall ammonia synthesis reaction into two or more sub-reactions which is carried out using a mediating Nitrogen carrier.

The existing global energy crisis demands potential materials for applications relating to renewable energy production, for instance, hydrogen fuel generation via water splitting. Transition metal phosphide (TMP) nanoparticles e.g., copper phosphide (Cu3-xP), nickel phosphide (Ni2P), etc. are well known water splitting catalysts. Our prior experiences with TMPs confirm the superior activity of bimetallic phosphides over their monometallic counterparts.

Supercapacitors, celebrated for their high power density and rapid charge-discharge capabilities, represent a promising solution to meet the increasing demand for sustainable energy storage systems. This research adopts a sustainable approach to develop green supercapacitors by leveraging biomass-derived materials for both electrodes and electrolytes, thereby aligning with global efforts toward green energy technologies and the circular economy.

Bio-oils are an attractive source of energy with many advantages over the
use of fossil fuels. However, bio-oils present corrosiveness, high viscosity and
low heating value associated with their high oxygen content. Therefore, before
its application as a transport fuel, it needs to be improved. In this sense,
catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is one of the most promising biofuel
upgrading processes. However, conventional catalysts for HDO based on Co-
Mo and Ni-Mo (both sulfidated) or noble metals, still have certain

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), considered green devices, use hydrogen and oxygen as reactants in electrochemical processes to produce electricity, water, and heat as by-products. The use of this technology in the automotive industry and power generation has led to a detailed study of its operating principle to make it cost-effective. Polymer electrolyte fuel cells as innovative technology has promoted research to improve its performance.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in textile production and, consequently, in the generation of waste. In Brazil alone, approximately 175,000 tons of this type of waste are generated, of which only 36,000 tons are reused. In this context, this work aimed to use textile waste as a base for conversion into conductive materials, adding value to a discarded material.

In addition to producing the world's fuels, oil is also the source of many value-added chemicals and pharmaceuticals that end up subsidizing fuel sales. In order to move away from oil, it is important to make these chemicals as well as fuels from alternative renewable sources such as woody biomass. Here we focus on the renewable production of the monomers for Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 from lignocellulosic materials through chemoenzymatic methods.