Profile – Water Zone

Education:

University of Zaragoza (Spain)
Qualifications:

PhD Chemical Engineering
Work History:

I worked for the Spanish National Reserach Council and for Bristol University
Current Job:

Newton International Royal Society Fellow

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We are running out of fossil fuels in the planet, so renewable sources need to be found to power our planet. One of them is solar energy, however, it can be stored when it is not sunny. What would we do on cloudy days, then? Which are likely to happen in the UK…

Well, solar energy can be converted into chemical energy. Plant photosynthesis demonstrates the practicality of the conversion of sunlight to chemical fuels. Plants absorb light which they convert into their food, so why don’t we do that??

Water is composed of hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2)., right? This H2 can be used as a fuel in what is called “fuel cells”, so why don’t split water and store that H2? That is the idea of my research. I develop new materials based on oxides of abundant elements, which can absorb sun light, and with this energy split the H2O molecule!

Looks easy…but there are still plenty of challenges to be covered.
My Typical Day:

When you do science there is not such a thing, everyday is unique!
What I'd do with the prize money:

H-Racer Hydrogen & Solar Educational Experiments Kit

Veronica Celorrio