Titania is transferring its experience in the study of electrochemical reactions for industrial applications to the field of renewable energies. As part of this strategy, it is looking for researchers in this field to apply for contracts within the Ministry of Science and Innovation’s Programa Estatal de Promoción del Talento y su Empleabilidad en I+D+i (State Programme for the Promotion of Talent and its Employability in R&D+i). The contracts will be for both PhD studentships and postdoctoral researchers. Those interested should send their CV to titania@titania.aero.

The research will focus on processes for generating green hydrogen, which is obtained through the electrolysis of water. This process involves electrochemical reactions, which are those in which the chemical change is caused by a total transfer of electrons between the reacting elements. In the case of electrolysis, the energy required for the reaction to take place is obtained by applying an external electric current. The supplied electric current causes the electrolysis of the water. In this way, the protons are reduced, forming H2, and, simultaneously, the oxygen in the hydroxyl groups is oxidised, leading to the formation of O2.

Titania has extensive experience in the study of electrochemical reactions for industrial applications. This is hardly surprising since its origin was as a spin-off of the University of Cadiz’s Corrosion and Protection Group. As the name of the group indicates, its researchers are specialised in the study of the electrochemical reactions involved in the corrosion and protection processes of metallic alloys and in the handling of the instrumental techniques used in their characterisation.

Since the creation of Titania in 2006, one of the most important fields of its activity has been the study of different electrochemical processes for industrial use, such as, for example, the sulpho-tartaric anodising process used by Airbus as a low environmental impact alternative to the chromic acid anodising of metal alloys. The chemical basis of the anodising process is similar to that of obtaining green hydrogen. In the anodising process, the electrical current supplied is used to cause a controlled oxidation of the metal surface, which is transformed into a protective oxide layer.
In order for the hydrogen generation process to be “green” and leave no carbon footprint, it is vital that the electrical energy inputs used to carry it out are also from clean energy sources. This is achieved through the use of renewable energies, such as photovoltaic or wind energy. Due to its location in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, near the Strait of Gibraltar, Titania enjoys all the conditions of sun and wind for the use of these energies for the required environmental, technical and economic sustainability of this process.