H2@UniTo

Who we are

H2@UniTo
the Scientific Platform on Hydrogen of the University of Turin

H2@UNITO is the University of Turin platform that brings together forty-four researchers from nine departments, with the aim of addressing the challenges related to hydrogen.

The platform offers integrated multidisciplinary expertise in production, logistics, energy, mobility, and and industrial applications related to hydrogen, as well as legal, economic, and social perspectives.

H2@UNITO participates in several initiatives, including some activities related to the PNRR. The MOST initiative, funded by the MUR, focuses on hydrogen technologies such as the production of e-fuels and hydrogen, their storage and compression, and the analysis of socio-environmental impacts.

The NODES ecosystem aims to develop hydrogen production and storage solutions.

Other projects are funded by the EU, the MUR, and private industries.

H2@UniTo Research

The main research areas addressed by the H2@UNITO groups are:

- Production: research on hydrogen production focuses on electrolysis of waterthrough electrochemical and photoelectrochemical processes, as well as photocatalytic processes such as water splitting and the reforming of organic compounds. The production of hydrogen-rich mixtures through the pyrogasification of organic materials and plastics is also being studied. Biological production methods and the hydrogenase of bacteria and algae are also being examined.

- Logistics: In the logistics sector, researchers are working on purification solutions,hydrogen distribution and storage. They study depleted geological sites such as reservoirs, salt formations, and aquifers for their suitability for hydrogen storage. Furthermore, they develop innovative materials such as hydrides and LOHCs (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers), improve compression technologies, and conduct life cycle analyses of storage systems.

- Energy and Mobility Applications: Research in this area investigates the integration of 18.6667px;">of storage systems with electrolysers and fuel cells for the storage of renewable energy. Feasibility studies They are exploring the use of hydrogen in automotive, rail, and marine mobility, including the development of fuel cell drones.

- Industrial Use: H2@UNITO develops advanced catalysts to improve selective hydrogenation processes, useful for the energy transition and for the use of hydrogen in the synthesis of synthetic hydrocarbons and in chemical industry applications.

- Legal Perspectives: Detailed analyses assess the feasibility of The economics of hydrogen use in energy and mobility systems, as well as the impact of financing for the development of initiatives aimed at the use of hydrogen, are studied. Competitive scenarios, regulations, and social acceptance of hydrogen technologies are studied.

Coordinator of the H2@UniTo Platform

Prof. Marcello Baricco

Marcello Baricco was born in Turin on October 4, 1958. After his PhD in Chemistry (1987), he worked at the Galileo Ferraris Electrotechnical Institute and subsequently at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turin, where he is now Professor. Full Professor of Metallurgy and Deputy Director for Research.

He has supervised over 50 master's theses and 9 doctoral theses. He is a member of INFM, INSTM and the Center of Excellence on Nanostructured Interfaces and Surfaces. He has led several national and international projects (PRIN, EU, Piedmont Region).

His research, with over 300 publications, focuses on physical metallurgy: microstructure and phase transformations, thermodynamic properties, amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys, and materials for hydrogen storage.