Mineral carbonation is based on the reaction of CO2 with metal oxide bearing materials to precipitate insoluble carbonates, with calcium being one of the most attractive metals. While the development of industrial carbonation processes has been recommended to mitigate climate change, its natural occurrence in soils and its potential enhancement through management practices has received little attention so far. Since natural carbonation is commonly considered to be a slow process, spreading powder of non-carbonated, calcium-bearing minerals over soils, a strategy known as enhanced rock weathering (ERW), is a promising way to accelerate it. While humid tropical areas are generally regarded as having the greatest potential for ERW, recent evidence suggests that carbonation may also be significant in drylands, driven by water vapour adsorption (WVA) by soil at night, potentially representing an overlooked long-term carbon sink. The general objective of the OASIS project is to assess the potential of ERW in dryland soils. Its main underlying assumption is that optimizing WVA with amendment of highly adsorbent ground rock will maximize the carbonation process while reducing the dependence of phototrophic organisms on rainfall or irrigation. To tackle this objective, OASIS will implement field and mesocosm manipulative experiments using cutting-edge infrastructure to control environmental conditions and simulate climate change. These will be coupled to state-of-the-art measurements and isotopic tracing of soil-atmosphere water vapor and CO2 fluxes. This research will contribute to filling several gaps in our understanding of natural carbonation and its interactions with WVA, organisms, and climate change. It is also expected to provide solid arguments to implement conservation measures and sustainable agricultural practices in drylands or seasonally dry lands to protect and increase water and carbon resources, in line with several European and global guidelines.

Recently, it has been shown that the local catalyst structure plays a significant role in adsorption energies via the curvature effect. Currently, the curvature effect is mainly based on computational observations. My research objective is to validate my computational model of the curvature effect by experimental testing with Prof. Herrero's group at the University of Alicante. To validate the model, I will use the formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR), an important reaction for direct liquid fuel cell applications, as the model reaction. The research on validating the curvature effect is timely due to the established advancements in catalyst synthesis and spectroscopical studies. Namely, I will combine experimental methods of synthesising curved catalysts with the recent advancements in spectroscopical studies of electrochemical reactions. The resulting research will provide insights for curvature effect application on fuel cells research via the gained understanding of CO adsorbate energy correlation with curvature, and other electrochemical reactions by increased control of adsorption intermediate energies. During the fellowship, I will acquire new experimental skills in synthesis and surface characterisation. The obtained experimental experience will also further my current computational modelling expertise directly, by helping to refine the existing computational model for curvature, and, indirectly, by helping to understand the experimental limitations and governing factors that currently might be neglected in modelling.

Turning valuable though outcasted lignocellulosic biomass, such as forestry and agricultural waste, into commodity chemicals by using renewable energies is key to disrupt our ongoing dependence on oil refineries and fossil fuels and to stimulate the growth of a sustainable industry. The lack of effective valorization strategies to mine the valuable chemicals locked into lignin, one of the major components of this biomass, is holding back this transition. Using sunlight to drive this valorization is key to embrace sustainability. In this sense, photocatalysis is the prevalent strategy when targeting the upscaling of solar-driven chemistry. The realization of this concept has been prevented by huge fundamental and technical hurdles, viz. the lack of knowledge on the redox processes involved in the valorization, on specific catalysts and on the optimum systems for light harnessing and utilization. The RELICS will deploy an interdisciplinary approach of materials’ synthesis, interfacial engineering and operando characterization to pioneer new selective catalysts with specific end-products and tailor-made photocatalysts (PCs). Our definitive goal of demonstrating a photocatalytic machinery with programmed selectivity and breakthrough yields of lignin conversion will be enabled through advancing the project’s core objectives: (1) the rational design of electrocatalysts for the selective production of phenolic aldehydes or ketones, guided by (2) a profound understanding of the reaction mechanism and (3) the fabrication of multijunction PCs with intentionally-defined selectivity and enhanced photogenerated carrier utilization. The use of (photo)electrochemical model systems will support project progress by accelerating materials’ optimization and providing a reliable platform for the operando analysis of the reactive interface. All in all, the scientific outcomes of RELICS will positively impact the fields of organic electrosynthesis and solar energy conversion.

The Project is thought as an activity of innovative character so that citizens get to know the European integration process, and it is aimed at the creation of a feeling of European citizenship. Likewise, it is intended to foster European youngsters’ active participation in the European integration process through the delivery of adapted courses on this subject addressed to Secondary School teachers and students. In this sense, the Project has three main objectives, namely, teaching, research and dissemination. These are to be achieved through: 1. The creation and development of the Project website, which will host a virtual teaching platform; 2. Two editions of the training course for Secondary School teachers “The European Union: Organization and Functioning. A Spanish Perspective”; 3. A roundtable debate series entitled “European Union Studies in Secondary Education: Thematic Areas to be Covered”; 4. A series of conferences on the European Union at Secondary Schools in the Alicante Province, entitled “The EU for Secondary School Students: Bringing Teens close to the EU”; 5. The publication of an e-book under the title The EU-Study Materials for Secondary Education, which will compile and systematize the most important teaching materials on the EU; 6. The publication (both in paper and electronic formats) of a manual devised for Secondary Education levels, entitled An Introduction to the European Union: A Manual for Secondary Education.