In recent years, hydrogen has emerged as one of the best candidates in the field of renewable energy. Hydrogen can be stored in different ways: high-pressure gas reservoirs, reservoirs of liquid hydrogen, chemical absorption, complex hydrides, chemical hydrides or intercalation of hydrogen in metals. This project will be carried out in solid state. Solid state storage is related to storage of hydrogen in metal hydrides, chemical hydrides and nanostructured materials. The material to be produced for mobile applications such as electric vehicles should be able to absorb and desorb hydrogen at a temperature between 0 and 100°C, a pressure range between 1 and 10 bar and a very fast kinetics. Hydrogen storage in solid form has created new areas of application. Knowing the thermodynamic parameters of intermetallic compounds featuring stable hydrides is of great importance when using these hydrides in energy sources such as fuel cell generators for embedded or stationary applications. In this project, we will develop advanced and new materials for hydrogen storage dedicated both for Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and tanks for hybrid fuel cell vehicles. For these applications we must to improve both hydrogen storage capacity of the hydride and hydrogen absorption-desorption kinetics. We will also analyze sizing, integration and test in a hydrogen tank dedicated to Fuel Cell hybrid vehicle. The dissemination should be performed to the end users or creating and/or start-up. In the perspective of coupling hydride storage tank and fuel cell systems, the choice of the hydride is significant for both sizing and optimizing thermal and electrical energy of the overall system (a hydride hydrogen tank coupled to a fuel cell generator). The coupling between hydride storage and various types of fuel cells (low and high temperature) will be studied. The project aims to develop the technology of hydrogen storage under solid form (metal-hydrides combined with nanoporous activated carbon) with the objective to bring out hydrides which are suitable in the case of coupling with fuel cell system technologies. In this project, we use a double approach: a simulation approach based on DFT calculations and Finite Element Modeling to predict new and innovative materials, coupled with an experimental approach to process and optimize the material hydrides purity and performance. This project aims also to realize a valorization by a technological transfer applications clearly identified in the field of automotive and hybrid vehicles.

The project ProSmallAgriMed aims to promote the rational use of beneficial soil microbiota and improve small farmer agronomic practices to enhance productivity of inter-cropped perennial (cactus pear) and short-term species (field crops and vegetables) and promote synergistic cooperation between farmers and the value chain. The optimization of such practices in water limited environments will contribute to food security by (1) enhancing carbon sequestration and ensuring soil fertility; (2) expanding land coverage in space and time, thus supporting soil conservation and water use efficiency; (3) improving yields for consumption as food, feed, or industrial transformation; (4) increasing the nutritional quality of crop products; and (5) guaranteeing water and soil quality by decreasing chemical inputs. Such goals will be pursued by stimulating smallholder associations by increasing their expert knowledge and ability to interact each other and with various actors of the value chain, and by modulating new agronomic practices to be tested in real-life field conditions. The technological transfer to Maghreb farmers of know-how in the improvement of water efficiency and use of targeted beneficial soil microbial inocula will give farmers a competitive advantage in production of high quality products and promote the establishment of start-ups specialised in the production of targeted inocula, based on indigenous beneficial soil microbes. Results will provide a model that can be extended to the sustainable production of other crops in water-limited agro-ecosystems and will be instrumental in upgrading (i) the social and economic conditions of farmers and of the countries hosting new enterprises; (ii) the ecological conditions of semiarid and arid areas, through reduction of chemical inputs, soil erosion and water loss and increased resilience to climate change; and (iii) the ability of smallholder farmers to drain important agronomic information from similar areas.