Sustainable feedstock utilization

We only have one earth - to protect it, sustainable technologies must be developed.

This is why we are active in the fields of solar energy utilisation, the expansion of regenerative energy conversion methods, chemical energy storage and the conversion of waste biomass into valuable products.

We see ourselves primarily as a materials developer, focussing on porous and specifically modified solids.

Our research work always concentrates on the triad between material synthesis, structural and functional characterisation and testing of application potential.

Current research topics of the Wark group are:

1. Heterogeneous photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry

• Development of systems for photocatalytic H₂ formation, CO₂ reduction, N₂ activation and the production of valuable organic products.

• The photocatalysts used are plasmon resonance-active nanoparticles in TiO₂ with organized porosity, stoichiometrically optimized mixed metal oxide photocatalysts, modified carbon nitrides produced by microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis, sol-gel synthesis, spray pyrolysis or electrochemical or electrophoretic deposition.

• Photochemistry – Light-induced structural switching.

2. Electrocatalysis (with DLR-TT in Oldenburg)

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as customised precursors for porous, precious metal-free nano-oxides as catalysts for fuel cells and electrolysers.

• Water splitting and utilisation of ammonia as a hydrogen storage medium. Scale-up of electrochemical deposition for solar cell fabrication.

3. Waste biomasses to hydrochars

• Hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) of various waste biomasses,
  e.g. green waste, liquid manure, spent grains.

• Adaptation of the porosity of the hydrocarbons for applications in adsorption and catalysis.

• Treatment of the HTC water phases, which contain many organic molecules, using UV-rays or algae.

• Evaluation of the utilization potential of the hydrocarbons as filters, reactive fillers, as catalyst carriers, as soil conditioners or peat-free plant substrates.

4. Ion conduction, battery materials

• Novel materials for Li⁺ or Na⁺ ion conduction.

• Solid state NMR to analyze ion transport in solids.

5. Process simulation

• Modelling of extractive separations of products from fermentation processes.

• Method development

• NSF-DFG Echem: Elucidation of the contribution of surface structure in the form of surfaces, steps and edges in the electrocatalysis of oxygen evolution and reduction reactions, Dr. Dereje H. Taffa

• DFG-SPP 2370 „Nitroconversion“: Oberflächenoptimierte Metallnitride für echte Stickstoffreduktion - SUNRed“, Björn Müller

• MWK – Project DyNano: Investigation of photocatalytic elementary processes on the nanoscale using copper vanadate model systems, Alexander Simon

• Industry: Hydrobiochar, Alexander Wölk

• Innovation Space: Bioeconomy at Marine Sites - AQUATOR 2 -
  Business Accelerator for the Blue Bioeconomy - Implementation Phase, Juliane Köller-Gontermann

• Czech Republic, Heyrovsky Institute Prague: Innovative photocatalytic layers for environmental applications, Eliska Mikysková

• DAAD and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Nigeria: Development of waste-free technology for processing biowaste into high value-added products, Ahmed Ibitowa

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