Generation and interactions of plasmas with acoustic waves in piezoelectric materials: From fundamentals to the development of microreactors for reactive gas-phase processes
Principal Investigator Manuel Olivas Ramírez Funding Organization: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities Code: PID2023-147916NA-I00
Research Team: Ana María Gómez Ramírez, Manuel Oliva Ramírez, María del Carmen García Martínez, Miguel Camacho Aguilar, Agustín Rodríguez González-Elipe, Guillermo Fernando Regodon Harkness, Mateo Ruíz Martín.
Principal Investigator Ana María Gómez Ramírez / Manuel Olivas Ramírez Funding Organization: Ministry of Science and Innovation Code: TED2021-130124A-I00
Research Team: Ana María Gómez Ramírez, Rafael Álvarez Molina, José Cotrino Bautista, Manuel Oliva Ramírez, María del Carmen García Martínez, Alberto Palmero Acebedo, Agustín Rodríguez González-Elipe, Servando Marín Meana, Antonio José Márquez Alcaide, Guillermo Fernando Regodon Harkness, Adrián Megías Sánchez.
La emisión de CO2 representa actualmente un 77% de las emisiones totales de gases de efecto invernadero con origen antropogénico, propiciando un aumento paulatino del calentamiento global del planeta con las consecuentes y nefastas repercusiones medioambientales que ello supone. Por tanto, es indudable la necesidad de propiciar una transición hacia una economía donde el uso intensivo de combustibles fósiles no sea el eje prioritario, favoreciendo el desarrollo de procedimientos de transformación y aprovechamiento químicos respetuosos con el medio ambiente mediante el uso de fuentes energéticas alternativas. El proyecto “Desarrollo de plasmas intermitentes operados con electricidad renovable para la eliminación y revalorización de CO2”, RENOVACO2, pretende el desarrollo de tecnologías de plasma atmosférico que usan la electricidad como vector energético directo para llevar a cabo procesos químicos convencionalmente abordados mediante técnicas catalíticas, que involucran altas presiones y temperaturas y usan catalizadores térmicos con elementos contaminantes y de difícil reciclado.
Principal Investigator Ana María Gómez Ramírez Funding Organization: Ministry of Science and Innovation Code: PID2020-114270RA-I00
Research Team: José Javier Brey Sánchez, José Cotrino Bautista, Ana María Gómez Ramírez, María del Carmen García Martínez, Antonio Rodero Serrano, Paula de Navascués Garvín, Manuel Oliva Ramíre, Servando Marín Meana, Mateo Ruíz Martín
The need to promote an effective transition from an economy based on the intensive use of fossil fuels to one in which development is grounded in sustainable processes that do not involve CO₂ emissions makes it essential to develop new approaches where the primary energy source is electricity generated from renewable resources. The project “Sliding Arc Atmospheric Plasmas for Sustainable Processes” (hereafter, FIREBOW) aims to develop atmospheric plasma technologies that use electricity as a direct energy vector to carry out chemical processes traditionally addressed through catalytic techniques (typically involving high pressures and temperatures, low efficiencies, and the formation of undesired by-products).
Specifically, the project seeks to design and optimize a Sliding Arc Atmospheric Plasma (SAAP) reactor to drive three processes with major industrial and environmental impact: ammonia (NH₃) synthesis, hydrogen (H₂) production, and water decontamination. Ammonia is the key component in fertilizers used in agriculture, and its demand continues to grow in line with global food needs. Hydrogen, on the other hand, is widely recognized as a cornerstone in the transition toward a sustainable energy economy. In addition, the development of innovative water treatment technologies is increasingly necessary due to the rise of emerging pollutants—such as pesticides, pharmaceutical and chemical compounds, microorganisms, and even personal care products—that conventional methods are unable to fully remove.
In a first stage, FIREBOW will focus on the development of SAAP technology through the design, construction, modelling, and optimization of a sliding arc reactor. Potential modifications to existing reactor designs will be explored, including the incorporation of piezoelectric materials to induce secondary electron emission phenomena, the modification of electrode surface properties, and changes in system geometry, all aimed at improving process efficiency in future applications.
Given the complexity of the fundamental processes involved in this type of reactor, a detailed study will be conducted on its electrical response, as well as on mass and charge transport phenomena. This will be complemented by a thorough characterization and diagnosis of the plasma under varying conditions, including gas flow, interactions between excited species, residence time, and other key operational parameters. Both experimental characterization and theoretical simulation—carried out using computational methods—will be essential for the proper functioning and optimization of the proposed processes.
In a second stage, the project will address the study of reactions for H₂ and NH₃ production, with the aim of maximizing their energy efficiency, as well as the application of the technology to water purification.
The scientific and technological developments proposed in FIREBOW are of significant interest to various socio-economic stakeholders, and technology transfer activities are envisaged with companies and institutions that have already expressed interest in its development.
Renewable Electricity-Powered Plasma-Catalysis for CO2 Revalorization Process
REPCO2 Grant agreement ID: 101207816 01/09/2025 – 31/08/2027
Principal Investigator Ángeles López Martín Funding Organization: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Code: 101207816
Research Team: Anna G Scott, Sergey Peredkov, Angeles Lopez-Martin, Richard J Lewis, Graham J Hutchings, Serena DeBeer
Atmospheric pressure plasma catalysis for CO2 valorisation
The rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels highlights the need for effective solutions to reduce emissions. Non-thermal plasma catalysis offers an energy-efficient alternative, operating at room temperature and activating molecules under mild conditions. This approach can enhance chemical and energy yields. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the REPCO2 project will develop technology for CO2 valorisation by creating new atmospheric pressure plasma configurations and exploring cost-effective, environmentally friendly catalysts. The candidate will synthesise copper-based catalysts supported on zeolites, enhancing plasma-induced CO2 hydrogenation and dry reforming of methane (DRM) through improved diffusion of reactants and plasma species. This approach may also reduce catalyst deactivation and increase the commercial viability of the systems.
Principal Investigator Ana María Gómez Ramírez / José Cotrino Bautista Funding Organization: Junta de Andalucía Code: US-1380977
Research Team: Rafael Álvarez Molina, José Javier Brey Sánchez (Universidad de Loyola), Jesús Cuevas Maraver (US), Alberto Palmero Acebedo, Juan F. Rodríguez Archilla (US)
The project “Atmospheric Sliding Arc Plasmas for the Sustainable Production of Ammonia and Hydrogen”, hereinafter referred to as ARCPLAS, aims to develop chemical gas transformation processes using atmospheric plasma technologies that employ electricity as a direct energy vector. Specifically, the goal is to develop a Sliding Arc Atmospheric Plasma (SAAP) reactor to drive two processes of significant industrial and environmental impact: ammonia (NH₃) synthesis and hydrogen (H₂) production. Ammonia is the primary substance used in fertilizers for agriculture, and its demand is rising in line with global food needs. Regarding hydrogen, it is well known that the path toward a hydrogen-based economy represents one of the 21st century’s major challenges.
In its first stage, ARCPLAS proposes to develop the SAAP technology through the design, construction, modeling, and commissioning of a sliding arc reactor. The complexity of the fundamental processes involved in such reactors will require a detailed study of their electrical response and the mass and charge transport phenomena, as well as a comprehensive characterization and plasma diagnostics based on parameters such as gas flow, interactions between excited species, residence time, chemical characteristics of the gases involved, and other basic operating parameters. Both the experimental and theoretical characterization of the reactor—the latter carried out through computational methods—will be essential for its proper operation and optimization of the proposed processes.
In the second stage, the project will focus on studying the reactions for H₂ and NH₃ production, aiming to maximize both chemical yield and the reactor’s energy efficiency. Finally, in the last stage of the project, potential modifications to the developed SAAP reactor model will be explored, including the incorporation of piezoelectric materials to induce secondary electron emission phenomena, the modification of electrode surface properties, and adjustments to system geometry, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the performance of the studied processes.
Principal Investigator Ana María Gómez Ramírez Funding Organization: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. – Proyectos I+D+i «Retos Investigador» Code: PID2020-14270RA-100
Research Team: José Javier Brey Sánchez (Universidad de Loyola), José Cotrino Bautista, Paula de Navascués Garvín, Manuel Oliva Ramírez, Antonio Rodero (Universidad de Córdoba)
The need to enable an effective transition from a fossil fuel-intensive economy to one in which development criteria are based on sustainable processes that do not generate CO₂ makes it necessary to develop new processes where electricity from renewable sources serves as the primary energy input.
The project “Sliding Arc Atmospheric Plasmas for Sustainable Processes”, hereinafter referred to as FIREBOW, aims to develop atmospheric plasma technologies that use electricity as a direct energy vector to carry out chemical processes that are conventionally addressed via catalytic techniques (typically at high pressures and temperatures, with low yields and the formation of undesired by-products). Specifically, the project seeks to develop a Sliding Arc Atmospheric Plasma (SAAP) reactor to drive three processes of significant industrial and environmental impact: ammonia (NH₃) synthesis, hydrogen (H₂) production, and water decontamination.
Ammonia is the primary substance used in fertilizers for agriculture, and its demand is increasing in line with global food needs. Regarding hydrogen, it is well known that the path toward a hydrogen-based economy represents one of the 21st century’s major challenges. In addition, the development of novel water purification techniques is increasingly necessary due to the growing presence of emerging contaminants—such as pesticides, compounds from the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, microorganisms, and even personal care products—that conventional methods cannot completely remove.
In its first stage, FIREBOW proposes to develop SAAP technology through the design, construction, modeling, and commissioning of a sliding arc reactor. Possible modifications to current SAAP reactor models will be explored, including the incorporation of piezoelectric materials to induce secondary electron emission phenomena, modifications to electrode surface characteristics, and adjustments to system geometry, all aimed at improving process performance in the future.
The complexity of the fundamental processes involved in these reactors will require a detailed study of their electrical response and mass and charge transport phenomena, as well as comprehensive plasma characterization and diagnostics based on parameters such as gas flow, interactions between excited species, residence time, and other basic operational parameters. Both experimental characterization and theoretical simulation of the reactor—carried out using computational methods—will be essential for its proper functioning and optimization of the proposed processes.
In the second stage, the project will focus on studying the reactions for H₂ and NH₃ production, with the goal of maximizing the energy efficiency of these processes as well as the efficiency of water purification. The scientific and technological developments proposed in FIREBOW are of significant interest to various socio-economic actors, with planned activities to transfer knowledge and technology to companies and entities that have already expressed interest in its development.
