Ruhr-Universitat Bochum

Research project aiming to develop sustainable and recyclable metal alloys for efficient and safe solid-state hydrogen storage for stationary applications, including micro- and nanostructural analysis to understand and optimize storage performance.

A process being researched to replicate natural photosynthesis for the production of alternative fuels like hydrogen. It aims to give alternative fuels the strength needed to break the world's reliance on fossil fuels.

Natural enzymes that inspired the development of the iron catalyst. These enzymes are capable of splitting hydrogen molecules and extracting electrons and protons.

Photosynthetic hydrogen production using cyanobacteria harnesses these microorganisms’ natural ability to use light energy to split water, channeling some of the resulting electrons to hydrogenase or nitrogenase enzymes that reduce protons to molecular hydrogen, effectively turning sunlight, water, and CO₂ into a storable fuel.[1][2] In the reported study, cyanobacteria are used as living catalysts in an electrochemical device where their photosynthetic machinery provides electrons to hydrogenases under conditions that maintain enzyme activity, enabling sustained hydrogen evolution.[1][2]

Germany

Hesse (University of Kassel) and North Rhine-Westphalia (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

United Kingdom

A research project to create and improve a bio-based solar cell using organic materials and protein complexes (photosystem 1) combined with custom-made redox hydrogels to produce electrical power from sunlight.

A research project combining natural hydrogenase enzymes from algae with synthetic pigments to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight for renewable hydrogen fuel production.

A prototype bio-based solar cell that uses organic materials, photosystem 1 protein complexes, and custom-made redox hydrogels to produce electrical power from sunlight. Currently produces nanowatts of electricity with expectations to reach microwatts.