Objectives The H-CCAT project designs, upscales and shapes hybrid catalysts for the C-H functionalization of aromatic compounds. These solid catalysts will possess better recoverability, higher turnover numbers and better selectivity than current homogeneous catalysts for these reactions. The solid catalysts are applied at demonstration scale in the step-economical production of arylated or alkenylated aromatics, yielding motifs of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Methodology We will design heterogeneous hybrid catalysts featuring deactivation-resistant active sites, based on N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) or diimine ligands and active metal ions. Via efficient, one-step protocols based on self-assembly, these sites will be embedded in robust porous hybrid materials like hybrid silica or metal-organic frameworks. Deactivation or metal aggregation will be prevented by site isolation or by efficient metal reoxidation (for the oxidative alkenylations). Metal leaching is precluded by using strong bonds between metals and embedded ligands like NHCs. Flow protocols will be designed to maximize the turnover numbers. Catalyst synthesis will be scaled up to kg scale, using efficient one-step protocols, minimizing use of solvents or waste formation. Soft shaping methods, e.g. spray drying, will preserve porosity and activity of the hybrid solids. A demonstration is conducted at minipilot scale at the J&J site (Belgium), allowing LCA analysis, techno-economic assessment and elaboration of the business plan. Relevance to work program The catalysts feature new, deactivation resistant active sites; their TOF/TON is maximized by an appropriate porous structure which even can be swelling. Catalysts are produced using innovative one-step protocols to form porous hybrid catalysts as powders or even immediately as shaped objects. The molecules targeted have strong biological and pharmaceutical relevance; they target diseases like influenza, cancer or HIV (case study: Rilpivirine).

To meet EU key strategic orientations for the development of digital, enabling, and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains, the project BIO-SUSHY proposes a complete operating framework for the development of innovative repellent organic and hybrid coatings to challenge widespread yet polluting polyfluorinated alkyl substances. These coatings aiming both hydrophobic and oleophobic properties will be obtained from acknowledged processing technologies, i.e., bio-based thermoplastic powder and hybrid sol-gel. Advanced functionalization will be ensured by bio-based additives added to formulations. Coatings will be applied on various substrates for validation of applications at pre-industrial scale in different domains such as the textile, glass cosmetic and food packaging. Material selection, formulation and coating process will cope with a tailored regulating Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) strategy which evaluating criteria will encompass the risk toxicity of materials and hazardous leachate as well as life cycle assessment to determine economic and environmental impacts along the value chains. This SSbD strategy will be powered by physics based and data driven modelling tools for predicting both repellent properties of coating surfaces and leaching mechanisms of composites. Along with experimental measurements, modelling activity will serve a larger computational tool including all data collection and curation in a harmonized and annotated infrastructure for training and provision towards existing data repositories and marketplaces. This tool will complete a wider dissemination and valorisation strategy including not only scientific and economic aspects, but also to pave the way towards certification of materials and products for their introduction in pre-standardization landscape. For all these valorisation aspects BIO-SUSHY will be assisted by stakeholders to ensure social acceptance and economic impact of the foreseen innovations in coatings.

Power supply and carbon-intensive industries account for a large share of CO2 emissions. Shifting towards a low-carbon economy requires cost-effective carbon capture solutions to be developed, tested and deployed. Current solutions do not offer sufficient performances. Adsorption processes are promising alternatives for capturing CO2 from power plants and other energy intensive industries as cement, steel, or petrochemical industries. In this regard, Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a widely studied class of porous adsorbents that offer tremendous potential, owing to their large CO2 adsorption capacity and high CO2 affinity. However, the performances of MOF-based carbon capture technologies have not been fully evaluated. MOF4AIR gathers 14 partners from 8 countries to develop and demonstrate the performances of MOF-based CO2 capture technologies in power plants and energy intensive industries. After identifying the best MOFs in WP1 and validating them through tests (e.g. stability and selectivity) in WP2, the most promising will be produced at larger scale and shaped in WP3. WP4 will conduct simulations to study MOFs behaviours in two adsorption processes: VPSA and MBTSA and optimise them. Both solutions will be tested at lab scale in WP5. In WP6, 3 demonstration sites across Europe will prove the cost-efficiency and reliability of MOF-based carbon capture in CO2 intensive sectors: power supply, refineries and waste incineration. To ensure a wide development of the solutions developed, WP7 will focus on techno-economic analysis, LCA and WP8 on social acceptance and replicability. MOF4AIR aims to foster the uptake of CCS technologies by providing a TRL6-reliable solution matching end users' needs, notably by cutting CCS energy penalty by more than 10%. The solutions developed will be highly replicable thanks to the consideration of a wide range of carbon intensive sectors and clusters, notably through the project's Industrial Cluster Board.

In the wind power generation, aerospace and other industry sectors there is an emerging need to operate in the low temperature and highly erosive environments of extreme weather conditions. Such conditions mean current materials either have a very short operational lifetime or demand such significant maintenance as to render many applications either very expensive to operate or in some cases non-viable. EIROS will develop self-renewing, erosion resistant and anti-icing materials for composite aerofoils and composite structures that can be adapted by different industrial applications: wind turbine blades and aerospace wing leading edges, cryogenic tanks and automotive facia. The addition of novel multi-functional additives to the bulk resin of fibre reinforced composites will allow the achievement of these advanced functionalities. Multi-scale numerical modelling methods will be adopted to enable a materials by design approach to the development of materials with novel structural hierarchies. These are capable of operating in severe operating environments. The technologies developed in this project will provide the partners with a significant competitive advantage. The modification of thermosets resins for use in fibre composite resins represents both a chemically appropriate and highly flexible route to the development of related materials with different applications. It also builds onto existing supply chains which are represented within the partnership and provides for European materials and technological leadership and which can assess and demonstrate scalability. The partnership provides for an industry led project with four specific end users providing both market pull and commercial drive to further progress the materials technology beyond the lifetime of the project.