Paolo Fornasiero

Solar H2 generation via ethanol photoreforming on ε-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays activated by Ag and Au nanoparticles

Earth-abundant, non toxic and cheap Fe2O3 can be used as photocatalyst for sustainable hydrogen production from bio-ethanol aqueous solutions, under sunlight irradiation and without the application of any external electrical bias. To this aim, supported materials are not only technologically more appealing than powders, but also of key importance to develop photoactive and stable Fe2O3-based nanostructured photocatalysts. Here we demonstrated that, while bulk Fe2O3 is unsuitable for solar hydrogen evolution, nanostructured iron(III) oxide polymorphs show promising photoactivity. In particular, a hydrogen yield of 20 mmol h−1 m−2 was obtained on e-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays supported on Si(100) under simulated sunlight irradiation, mainly due to UV solar photon absorption. The functionalization with partially oxidized Ag nanoparticles resulted in a positive performance improvement upon selective irradiation with the UV portion of the solar spectrum. Conversely, the incorporation of Au nanoaggregates into e-Fe2O3 enabled to obtain a significant H2 production even under sole Vis light.

Renewable Resources and Renewable Energy : A Global Challenge, Second Edition

PART 1: TECHNOLOGIES FOR APPLICATION AND UTILIZATION OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES Rationale, Drivers, Standards, and Technology for Biobased Materials R. Narayan Biobased Key Molecules as Chemical Feedstocks H. van Bekkum Industrial Chemistry with Nature-Based Bioprocesses B. Witholt Catalytic Conversion of Carbohydrates to Oxygenates H. Mehdi, R. Tuba, Laszlo T. Mika, A. Bodor, K.Torkos, and I.T. Horvath PART2: PLASTICS AND MATERIALS FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES Developments and Future Trends for Environmentally Degradable Plastics E. Chiellini, P. Cinelli, and A. Corti Production of Plastics from Waste Derived from Agrofood Industry G. Braunegg, M. Koller, P. Varila, C. Kutschera, R. Bona, C. Hermann, P. Horvat, J. Neto, and L. Pereira On the Environmental Performance of Biobased Energy, Fuels, and Materials: A Comparative Analysis of Life-Cycle Assessment Studies M. Weiss and M. Patel PART 3: TECHNOLOGIES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY Hydrogen Production and Cleaning from Renewable Feedstock S. Hocevar Gasification of Biomass to Produce Hydrogen S. Albertazzi, F. Basile, and F. Trifiro Sustainable Biological Hydrogen Production A. Ynci Ypli, T.N. Vezirodlu Hydrogen-Based Technologies for Mobile Applications N. Hickey, P. Fornasiero, and M. Graziani Efficiently Distributed Power Supply with Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells P. Heidebrecht, K. Sundmacher PART 4: TRENDS, NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Renewable Resources and Energy in the Asia Pacific Region O.L. Castillo Development of Renewable Energy in Malaysia A.N. Ma, Y.M. Choo, K.Y. Cheah, and Y. Basiron Outlook on Catalytic Technologies for Sustainable Development: the Argentina Case C.R. Apesteguia Marketing Photovoltaic Technologies in Developing Countries G. Hegde and C.V. Nayar

Multi-functional copper oxide nanosystems for H_{2} sustainable production and sensing

1 Department of Chemistry – Padova University and INSTM 35131 Padova, Italy. 2 ISTM-CNR and INSTM – Department of Chemistry – Padova University 35131 Padova, Italy. 3 Department of Chemistry ICCOM-CNR Trieste Research Unit and INSTM Trieste University 34127 Trieste, Italy. 4 Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) Antwerp University –2020 Antwerpen, Belgium. 5 INFM-CNR – SENSOR Lab – Department of Chemistry and Physics Brescia University 25133 Brescia, Italy. * e-mail: alberto.gasparotto@unipd.it