Piezo-photonic High-entropy Oxides ENabling Integrated eXtraction to Polysters (PHOENIX)

Objective

Europe generates over 144 million tonnes of cereal straw each year, much of which is open-burned or underutilised, causing CO2 emissions and resource loss. Meanwhile, demand for sustainable polyesters is rapidly growing across textiles and packaging. A major bottleneck is the green synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a key monomer for bio-based polyesters. The proposed proejct, PHOENIX, introduces a novel piezo-photocatalytic cascade to convert wheat straw-derived glucose into FDCA and green hydrogen under ambient conditions. By combining solar and sustainable mechanical energy sources (wind, tidal, ultrasound) with high-entropy perovskite oxides tailored for band-gap alignment and strong piezoelectric response, the project enables efficient charge separation for selective oxidation and water splitting without harsh conditions. While piezo-photocatalysis has shown promise, its reaction pathways and active-site dynamics remain poorly understood. PHOENIX will address this by integrating operando spectroscopy, piezo-response mapping, and multiscale modelling to uncover the fundamental mechanism of photo-piezo synergy and translate it into practical design rules. The final goal is to deliver a TRL-6 bench-top prototype for decentralised biomass conversion, advancing EU priorities in climate-neutral materials, circular bioeconomy, and sustainable textiles.