Support for equipment to assist two 糖果派对 projects
New materials to attract plant and animal life and recycling of critical raw materials: 糖果派对 Climate Cluster supports two research teams trying to find new, climate-friendly solutions.
糖果派对 Climate Cluster has once again allocated resources to climate researchers at 糖果派对. This time, the support is for research infrastructure that can contribute to conducting new, interdisciplinary and climate-related research, which supports 糖果派对 Climate Cluster's mission to contribute to climate neutrality by 2050.
The two latest grants are for the purchase of equipment to support these projects.
Better habitats for animals and plants under water and in urban areas
Due to the rapid biodiversity decline, animals and plants need better living conditions in cities and underwater environments. To address this, the researchers behind this project aim to develop special materials and structures that will attract plant and animal colonization in various terrestrial and marine environments.
The researchers have received funding to acquire equipment that will aid in the test of such materials and development of shapes and structures.
At sea, these materials could be used for fabrication of artificial reefs for fish and small marine life. In the cities, it could be special clay-based elements that can be installed on building facades to support mosses, lichens and other small vascular plants, thereby creating a habitat for insects and other organisms. The researchers believe this will not only increase urban biodiversity and aesthetics but also help reduce the surface temperature of buildings by 2–3 degrees, contributing to a cooler urban climate.
Project title: 3D printing setup for exploring bio-receptive materials and structures.
Researchers:
- Roberto Naboni, Associate Professor, Department of Technology and Innovation, Faculty of Engineering.
- Cintia Organo Quintana, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science.
- Karl Attard, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science.
- Henrik Brøner Jørgensen, Associate Professor, Department of Technology and Innovation, Faculty of Engineering.
- Petra Soch暖rková, Research Assistant, Department of Technology and Innovation, Faculty of Engineering.
- Alberto Martinez, PhD Student, Department of Technology and Innovation, Faculty of Engineering.
Improving circular economy in green hydrogen production
On one hand, the world needs more green energy. On the other, when producing green energy, the process must be facilitated by many critical raw materials (e.g. platinum group metal catalysts), which are a limited natural resource. Therefore, as many researchers, including the team behind this project, point out, these materials need to be recycled.
However, the traditional ways of recycling produce PFAS related pollution that risks ending up in landfills or the atmosphere.
This project has been granted support to purchase equipment that will help the researchers develop sustainable ways to recycle materials. The project will also seek to test the quality of the recycled materials and to develop a basis for business models that can help incorporate circular use of recycled materials in the green hydrogen production.
Project title: Circular Economy for Green Hydrogen Production.
Researchers:
- Shuang Ma Andersen, Associate professor, Department of Green Technology, Faculty of Engineering.
- Nicole Franziska Richter, Professor, Department of Business & Management, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences.