Project Coordinator: Dr. Phys. Janis Kleperis

Associate Partner: Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LS IWC)

Leading Participant: Dr. Habil. Chem. Galina Dobele (LS IWC)

Project executors:

from ISSP UL:

  • Peteris Lesnicenoks,
  • Kaspars Kaprans,
  • Ingars Lukosevics;

from LS Institute of Wood Chemistry:

  • Aleksandrs Volperts,
  • Dmitrijs Djackovs,
  • Lilija Jasina,
  • Ance Plavniece;

from Faculty of Biology, UL:

  • Vizma Nikolajeva,
  • Ilze Dimanta,
  • Matiss Paiders,

and from Institute of Inorganic Chemistry RTU:

  • Antonija Dindune,
  • Dagnija Valdniece

Total cost: 300 000 EUR

Duration (years): 2018-2021

LZP FLPP Nr. LZP-2018/1-0194

Aim of the project is to develop and study catalytically active nitrogen-enriched carbon nanostructured materials, comparable with platinum catalysts but surpassing them in stability and resistance to pollution, for application in gaseous sensors and electrodes for devices applicable in energy harvesting, storage and usage - water electrolyzers, rechargeable batteries, hybrid batteries and microbial fuel cells. In our work, the main challenge in the project is to develop a technologies for nitrogen doping of self-extracted nanostructured carbon materials from local resouces and industrial waste (multi-layer graphene and alkaline activated charcoal, kraft-lignin, cellulosic wastewater sludge materials). Such materials are needed to make widespread use of nowadays expensive fuel cells for portable electronics and alternative energy technologies, where platinum is used as a catalyst. Scientists around the world are looking for platinum substitutes. Nitrogen-rich nanostructured carbon materials, which are obtained from already used raw materials (graphite crucibles, charcoal from local wood and cellulose-containing waste), are readily available and inexpensive materials that would be of great economic benefit to the National economy, in place of expensive platinum catalysts in different renewable energy technologies.