Sustainable Electrosynthesis for a Circular Economy: A CINE and Fraunhofer IGB Initiative

• Grant number: 25/12890-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Raphael Nagao de Sousa
• Grantee: Raphael Nagao de Sousa
• Principal researcher abroad: Luciana Vieira Dessoy Maciel
• Institution abroad: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Flávia Nogueira ; Ernesto Chaves Pereira de Souza
• Associated research grant: 17/11986-5 - Generation and storage of New Energy: bringing technological development for the country, AP.PCPE

Abstract

This project aims for a strategic international collaboration between the Green Hydrogen (GH2) division at the Center for Innovation on New Energies (CINE) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), in particular the Department of Sustainable Catalytic Processes. The partnership aims to advance integrated electrochemical technologies for the sustainable production of value-added chemicals, with a particular focus on sustainable carbon- and nitrogen-based electrosynthesis as well as green hydrogen generation and utilization. Combining the GH2 division's expertise in catalyst design, gas diffusion electrode engineering, and system integration for water electrolysis with Fraunhofer IGB's leadership in interdisciplinary cascade processes, scalable electrosynthesis and thermo-catalytic processes, the project will explore novel pathways for combining water splitting reaction with thermo-catalysis for the production of green fuels, electroreduction of carbon dioxide and nitrogen species toward high-value products (ammonia, ethylene, formic acid). This synergistic approach builds on complementary know-how and infrastructure to address key challenges in selectivity, stability, and scalability of sustainable processes powered by renewable energy. By promoting knowledge exchange and joint research, this CINE-Fraunhofer collaboration aims to accelerate the development of next-generation sustainable synthetic platforms aligned with the valorization of renewable energy, global decarbonization and circular economy goals. (AU)