On 4–5 June 2025, the SOREC2 project held its Summer School “Exploiting Solar Energy for CO₂ Reduction and Energy Storage” at the Università degli Studi di Ferrara in Italy. The SOREC2 Summer School gathered 36 early-career researchers—including master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdocs—for an intensive two-day program of lectures, technical discussions, and networking.
Representing the OHPERA consortium, project coordinator Prof. Sixto Giménez from the Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM) at Universitat Jaume I delivered an insightful keynote titled “Optimising Metal Oxide Nanostructures for Solar-to-Fuel Conversion.” His presentation highlighted cutting-edge advancements within OHPERA’s work on electrode materials, focusing on the design and upscaling of metal oxide photoanodes.
Tackling global energy challenges with nanostructured solutions
Prof. Giménez introduced the broader context of his work by underlining the critical role of renewable technologies in addressing the dual crisis of climate change and energy sustainability. He positioned (photo)electrocatalysis as a powerful route for producing solar fuels and value-added chemicals with low environmental impact.
The core of his presentation focused on bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄), a promising metal oxide photoanode for solar-driven oxidation reactions. Though attractive due to its earth-abundant composition and suitable band structure, BiVO₄ suffers from inherent drawbacks such as low carrier mobility and poor charge separation.
To overcome these challenges, OHPERA researchers have developed advanced nanostructuring strategies. These include integrating organic hole transport layers and catalytic coatings, forming functional heterostructures that boost both activity and long-term stability. Importantly, the team has also demonstrated a scalable flow-synthesis method capable of producing large-area photoelectrodes, paving the way for real-world applications.
From material innovation to device understanding
The talk also emphasised the project’s commitment to understanding the fundamental processes that govern device behavior. Through advanced spectroscopic analysis, OHPERA investigates charge carrier dynamics to better comprehend performance limitations and inform further improvements in device design.
Prof. Giménez’s contribution sparked strong interest from attendees, aligning with the school’s multidisciplinary exploration of solar fuels, photoelectrochemistry, and CO₂ reduction technologies.
Pictures and more details of the event at https://sorec2.eu/sorec2-summer-school-explores-photoelectrochemical-solutions-for-solar-fuels/
The SOREC2 Summer School proved to be a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, reinforcing the value of collaborative learning and cross-project synergies in the European research ecosystem. Events like this accelerate technological progress while inspiring and empowering the next generation of scientists committed to building a sustainable energy future.
Stay tuned for more updates from OHPERA and our continued efforts to transform solar energy into sustainable solutions!