Universitat Politecnica de Valencia

The Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ) is a joint research centre created in 1990 by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) located at the UPV Campus. The ITQ is an international reference centre in the area of catalysis and new materials, and also in photochemistry. Due to its excellent fundamental and oriented research level and to its multidisciplinary character, the ITQ has the possibility to develop research in different disciplines having an extraordinary flexibility and capability to adapt itself to new research challenges. ITQ has more than two hundred researchers from all over the World. The research at ITQ is carried out through Regional, National and European funded grants and also through some projects funded by its own resources. Besides, ITQ obtains a substantial part of its funding from R&D agreements with multinational companies from around the World that corresponds to one third of the total budget.

UPV was participating on similar EU projects such as the previous LoterCO2M and ECO2fuel projects giving capability in electrocatalyst syntheses and characterization and membrane modification. The REDhy project perfectly fits our portfolio, and we are glad to continue supporting the advances in the field of energy storage. UPV coordinates the redox mediator design, synthesis, optimization and upscale, and contributes with input to the electrode and to the system to aid in making the project a success. Therefore, the REDhy project objectives are completely in the limelight of our activities. Moreover, with the help of the industrial partners, we could bring our research results to practical applications.

Within the REDhy project, UPV will develop alternative redox mediators, soluble at neutral conditions and free of critical raw materials that will contribute to sustainable and cost-effective water electrolysis systems. A crucial aspect is exploring green, streamlined synthetic methods for redox couples’ production. UPV will optimize mediators’ water solubility and redox properties while minimizing environmental impact. Using theoretical calculations and advanced characterization techniques the research will ensure optimal mediator performance and provide insights into their behavior, guiding future developments in the field.