The first objective of the present research is the development of functional nanomaterials able to act as photocatalysts for artificial photosyntheses (carbon dioxide reduction to methane and methanol) thanks to the efficient concentration and controlled diffusion of reactants, which are achieved in designed nanospaces with immobilized photocatalytically functional units.
Another objective of the present research is the total system developments for the photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction suitable to the dark fermentation of waste. One approach is the application of the photocatalytic reaction after the separation of biochemically formed fuels like methane and hydrogen from the gas derived from the dark fermentation.