Grants
SPECTRA
The SPECTRA project, funded under the INNTERCONECTA-STEP 2025 programme and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER), focuses on the industrial research and laboratory-scale evaluation of advanced technologies for the removal of emerging contaminants from water, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Bisphenol A (BPA).
These contaminants pose a significant environmental and regulatory challenge and require new treatment approaches capable of combining high removal efficiency with low environmental impact.
The main objective of SPECTRA is to develop and evaluate an advanced hybrid treatment system combining mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) filtration and heterogeneous photocatalysis. The photocatalytic technology will be based on highly reactive subnanometric metal clusters, particularly Ag₅ and Cu₅, integrated into advanced materials specifically designed for the degradation of PFAS and BPA.
The project covers the design and synthesis of photocatalysts, the development of functional mixed-matrix membranes, their physicochemical and functional characterisation, toxicological and ecotoxicological assessment, and the evaluation of contaminant removal under controlled conditions.
The resulting technologies will ultimately be integrated into a modular hybrid membrane-photocatalysis system and evaluated with real water matrices at laboratory scale.
Among the expected project outputs are PFAS and BPA removal efficiencies of at least 95% and total organic carbon (TOC) mineralisation above 90%, together with low energy requirements, operation without chemical oxidants and the avoidance of toxic by-products and sludge generation. The project also aims to develop a modular and scalable technological approach that can provide the basis for future industrial applications in advanced water treatment.
PhotoSynCO₂
The Industrial PhD project carried out by predoctoral researcher Martín Dieste Places at NANOGAP, in collaboration with the NANOMAG research group at iMATUS–USC, focuses on the catalytic and photocatalytic properties of subnanometric Ni, Ag and Cu metal clusters supported on semiconductor materials.
Within this framework, Martín has investigated the photocatalytic production of green hydrogen through solar-driven water splitting. This technology is currently being developed for industrial application by Hysun, a NANOGAP spin-out. His contribution has focused on the catalytic evaluation of the developed materials and the analysis of their performance under relevant reaction conditions.
He has also conducted extensive research on the thermocatalytic reduction of CO₂ through the reverse water–gas shift reaction (RWGS), assessing the ability of the catalysts to convert CO₂ into syngas and contribute to carbon valorization processes.
During a research stay in Prague, he explored the catalytic activity of Ni- and Ag-based materials in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene using O₂. This work examined catalyst activity and selectivity, with particular attention to limiting the formation of CO₂ as an undesired reaction product.
In parallel, Martín has contributed to the development and optimization of synthetic procedures for subnanometric Ni clusters, expanding NANOGAP’s capabilities in the preparation and application of these materials.
Funded under the Xunta de Galicia Industrial Doctorates Programme (IN606D) through the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN), and aligned with RIS3 Galicia 2021–2027, the project contributes to the development of advanced catalytic technologies for green hydrogen production, CO₂ valorization and more resource-efficient industrial processes.
METABEC
The METABEC industrial PhD project, developed by NANOGAP in collaboration with the NANOMAG research group at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) and carried out by predoctoral researcher Alejandra García Calvo, focuses on the advanced structural and functional characterization of metal molecules (M-M) such as Ag₅, both M-M in solution and M-M incorporated into metal oxide semiconductors and other catalysts. The project aims to develop methodologies to analyze their structure, stability, and functional behavior, establish quality control protocols, and support the applications developed by NANOGAP, for example in biomedical applications or green hydrogen photo production. The project is funded by under the Xunta de Galicia Industrial Doctorates Programme (IN606D), through the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN), and is aligned with RIS3 Galicia 2021–2027.
S☼LAR-H₂R
The S☼LAR-H₂R project, led by TEWER ENGINEERING together with NANOGAP, HYSUN, and with the collaboration of USC and UC3M, is developing a solar photoreactor to produce 100% renewable hydrogen through photo-thermo-catalysis, using water vapor and solar energy at ≤550ºC, with a lower carbon footprint and competitive cost (€1.5-3/kg). With a duration of three years, a budget of more than €3.18 million, and EU-NextGenerationEU funding, it seeks to industrialize efficient, modular, and scalable green hydrogen technologies to drive the energy transition and the creation of skilled jobs.
INTEGRA2H2
NANOGAP, S.L. has received support through the European Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, which reinforces the commitment to the development of sustainable technologies and innovation in the energy field.
DENITRA
The DENITRA project, led by NANOGAP in partnership with ESPINA & DELFÍN, is developing an innovative solution to reduce nitrate pollution in continental waters reaching the Mar Menor. Through advanced photocatalysis and nanotechnology, the project seeks to deliver an efficient, scalable, and sustainable treatment system that supports the recovery of this unique ecosystem. Funded under the RECUPERA programme by CDTI and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), DENITRA represents a major step towards applying cutting-edge technologies to environmental restoration challenges.
