| Università di Padova

Unipd studies new methods to produce hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide

Submitted by francesca.forzan on Mar, 10/06/2025 - 13:57

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Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

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Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

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Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass.

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Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>

Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers for the future: it is clean, as it burns producing only water, and it is highly efficient, generating four times more energy than oil per unit of mass. Besides its strategic role in the energy transition, hydrogen is also a crucial raw material for the chemical and petrochemical industries, where it is used in up to 70% of production processes, for example, for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, which is present in millions of tonnes every year in our homes, healthcare services, and supermarkets.

Currently, however, hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide are produced through energy-intensive industrial processes that heavily rely on fossil fuels. Therefore, using sunlight to obtain these molecules—drawing inspiration from natural photosynthesis—is a highly significant scientific challenge. This approach is based on photocatalysis, a process where a substance absorbs light and uses the gathered energy to trigger useful chemical reactions. Simply put, it is a way to transform light into chemical energy, for example, to obtain hydrogen from water or hydrogen peroxide from the oxygen in the air. There are already photocatalytic materials capable of promoting one of these two processes individually, but designing a system capable of modulating the final product—selectively switching from hydrogen to hydrogen peroxide—by merely changing the conditions remains an open challenge.

With this objective, a research team from the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua has designed an innovative organic molecule that can “intelligently” respond to environmental conditions, transforming into different nanostructures that activate two distinct photocatalytic processes: the production of hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide, simply by modifying the way the molecules aggregate.

This research, recently published in the journal «Advanced Functional Materials», was conducted by PhD student Marianna Barbieri and coordinated by Professor Luka Ðorđević. The study demonstrates how a single dye-based molecule can self-assemble into two different nanostructures with completely different behaviours.

«The fibrous nanostructures generate hydrogen from water under sunlight, while the particulate nanostructures activate the production of hydrogen peroxide from air and light. To achieve this bifunctional behaviour, we exploited the principles of supramolecular chemistry, which allows precise control over how organic molecules, in this case a dye, organize themselves in space and communicate with each other. This control over self-assembly proved crucial for modulating photocatalytic activity», says Marianna Barbieri. «Another crucial aspect is sustainability: the developed materials are entirely organic, contain no rare metals, and are recyclable and reusable, thus contributing to greener, safer, and more economical chemistry. This work confirms how fundamental research, combined with an interdisciplinary vision, can give rise to advanced technologies with real impact on society and the environment».

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Submitted by trasparenza on Mar, 10/06/2025 - 13:53

Unipd studia nuovi metodi per produrre idrogeno o acqua ossigenata

Submitted by francesca.forzan on Mar, 10/06/2025 - 13:52

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L’idrogeno è considerato uno dei vettori energetici più promettenti per il futuro: è pulito, perché brucia producendo solo acqua, ed è altamente efficiente, generando quattro volte più energia del petrolio per unità di massa. Oltre al suo ruolo strategico nella transizione energetica, l’idrogeno è anche una materia prima cruciale per l’industria chimica e petrolchimica, dove viene utilizzato fino al 70% dei processi produttivi, ad esempio per la sintesi dell’acqua ossigenata, presente in milioni di tonnellate ogni anno nelle nostre case, nei servizi sanitari e nei supermercati.

Attualmente, però, l’idrogeno e l’acqua ossigenata vengono prodotti attraverso processi industriali ad alta intensità energetica, che fanno largo uso di combustibili fossili. Per questo, utilizzare la luce solare per ottenere queste molecole – ispirandosi alla fotosintesi naturale – è una sfida scientifica di grande rilevanza. Questo approccio si basa sulla fotocatalisi, un processo in cui una sostanza assorbe la luce e sfrutta l’energia raccolta per innescare reazioni chimiche utili. In termini semplici, è un modo per trasformare la luce in energia chimica, ad esempio per ottenere idrogeno dall’acqua o acqua ossigenata dall’ossigeno dell’aria. Esistono già materiali fotocatalitici in grado di promuovere singolarmente uno di questi due processi, ma progettare un sistema capace di modulare il prodotto finale – passando selettivamente da idrogeno ad acqua ossigenata – semplicemente cambiando la condizioni, è una sfida ancora aperta.

Con questo obiettivo, un team di ricerca del Dipartimento di Scienze chimiche dell’Università di Padova ha progettato una molecola organica innovativa, capace di rispondere in modo “intelligente” alle condizioni ambientali, trasformandosi in nanostrutture differenti che attivano due processi fotocatalitici diversi: la produzione di idrogeno oppure di acqua ossigenata, semplicemente modificando il modo in cui le molecole si aggregano.

Questa ricerca, recentemente pubblicata sulla rivista «Advanced Functional Materials», è stata condotta dalla dottoranda Marianna Barbieri e coordinata dal docente Luka Ðorđević. Lo studio mostra come una singola molecola a base di un colorante possa autoassemblarsi in due nanostrutture differenti, con comportamenti completamente differenti.

«Le nanostrutture fibrose generano idrogeno da acqua sotto luce solare, mentre le nanostrutture particellari attivano la produzione di acqua ossigenata a partire da aria e luce. Per ottenere questo comportamento bifunzionale, abbiamo sfruttato i principi della chimica supramolecolare, che permette di controllare finemente come le molecole organiche, in questo caso un colorante, si organizzano nello spazio e comunicano tra loro. Questo controllo sull’autoassemblaggio si è rivelato cruciale per modulare l’attività fotocatalitica - afferma Marianna Barbieri -. Un altro aspetto cruciale è la sostenibilità: i materiali sviluppati sono completamente organici, non contengono metalli rari, sono riciclabili e riutilizzabili, contribuendo così a una chimica verde, più sicura e più economica. Questo lavoro conferma come la ricerca fondamentale, unita a una visione interdisciplinare, possa dare vita a tecnologie avanzate con un impatto reale sulla società e sull’ambiente».