The main goal of MULTI2HYCAT is to design, obtain proof of concept (2 gr.) and upscale in a pre-pilot reactor (20-50 gr.) a new class of hierarchically-porous organic-inorganic hybrid materials, which will be used as active catalysts to carry out multi-step asymmetric catalytic processes with predominantly high conversions (up to 90%) and selectivity (in the range of 80-90%) towards the desired final products. The project promises to solve, for the first time, the low conversion and selectivity of current organosiliceous solids, while at the same time improving the flexibility and versatility and reducing costs of the obtained catalysts, making them attractive for a wide range of industrial applications. To this end, during the project, these novel catalysts will be demonstrated for specialty chemical and pharmaceutical applications, as a concrete prime-mover for subsequent replication. The MULTI2HYCAT project will contribute to the implementation of the EU policies and Directives on competitiveness and sustainability (e.g. Circular Economy Strategy and Resource Efficiency), through the validation of novel concepts in hybrid materials design for heterogeneous catalysis. This includes the preparation and validation of innovative hierarchical porous organic-inorganic materials with several active sites (organocatalysts) perfectly located in specific structural positions in their framework which will be used as single-solid reusable hybrid active catalyst to carry out multi-step catalytic processes. The new material will allow avoiding the extra-efforts associated with isolation of intermediate products, wastes and solvents elimination and purification processes thus enabling more efficient and sustainable catalytic routes from the economic, energetic as well as the environmental points of view.

For space missions, the energy density of batteries is a key factor of systems mass. A recent battery technology, based on this Lithium-Sulfur chemistry and developed by OXIS Energy, has shown promising results, particularly in terms of specific energy and cycling performances. Lithium-Sulfur batteries could become the next breakthrough technology for space batteries, with a factor of two on the specific energy compared to the current Lithium-Ion products. ECLIPSE ambition is to channel the research activities in Europe and, as a spinning-in effort, ensure that the harsh space constraints are taken into account for the further improvements of the Li-S technology. This research action aimed at developing Li-S technology for space applications focusing on three levels: - Cell level studies, including research to optimise the four main cells components: anode, cathode, separator and electrolyte to achieve 400Wh/kg cells compatible with space cycling profiles. - Battery and encapsulation level, including prototyping and theoretical studies. - System level studies for integration in satellite and launcher architectures, taking into account the economic constraints and the future technical challenges. The expected outcomes of ECLIPSE are: - Mass reduction of batteries by a factor two. - Costs reduction at all levels: subsystem, system and launching costs. - Maturation of the technology (TRL 5 expected at the end of the project). The main impacts of this research are related to competitiveness (lighter is cheaper), non-dependency and innovation: beyond current markets, this breakthrough can enable new challenging missions. The impact of the project is secured by the composition of the consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space with the main European actors of the Lithium-Sulfur electrochemistry and space batteries: ECLIPSE will contribute to the consolidation of an independent European industrial supply chain for Lithium-Sulfur batteries. Project duration is 24 months.