The thesis has the objective to develop integrated competencies for the organization and strategic direction in public administrations of the renewable energy value chain. The Doctorate aims to develop, by using a specific case example on which focus the study, knowledge, and competencies for:1. Participation in the organization and strategic direction of public administrations (local, regional, national) to develop innovative strategies for the renewable energy value chain2. Develop research paths to valorize management competencies, leadership, and communication skills for public organizations, including in the human resources area, in reference to the renewable energy sector 3. Reinforcement of the administration capabilities to develop public politics and decision, implementation, and evaluation tools in the energy sector.The specific case example around which are built above competencies is a key technology to accelerate the transition to the replacement of fossil fuels and close the carbon cycle: the development of devices called artificial leaves to produce solar fuels in a distributed approach capable of integrating more effectively with the territory and its resources, enhancing its resilience, and with a direct boosted contribution to reduce the emissions of CO2 (both reusing this molecule and using solar energy for its conversion) and the territory impact on climate changes. This objective requires a holistic system approach, which integrates fundamental knowledge of applied, engineering and industrial, and socio-economic aspects. The proposed research integrates fundamental studies on materials and mechanistic aspects, with the technological and engineering development of the devices, with analysis also of socio-economic aspects related to the use of these devices and their impact on the mitigation of CC and the replacement of fossil fuels. The aim is thus to provide, by investigating the development of a specific critical technology, integrated by the additional competences and educational activities given both at the local and national level through the National Doctorate, both the technological and additional skills which allow promoting the human capabilities for proper management and strategic direction of the relevant area of sustainable energy. The study will address the development of artificial leaves to produce solar fuels to be used for local renewable energy chains, a priority indicated in recent national priorities to promote the sustainability of regions in the south of Italy. Specifically, the aim is a decentralized production/storage to boost the transition to "intelligent" forms of energy generation and distribution. Artificial leaves are devices that use solar energy to convert molecules such as H2O, CO2, and N2 (widely available) into solar fuels (H2, methanol, NH3, respectively), acting as chemical energy storage molecules for transport and distributed use of renewable energy (solar) replacing the need of fossil fuels, therefore drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with an enhancement of local renewable energy resources, overcoming the limits associated with fluctuations in demand and load imbalances in the renewable energy production.

Scientific/technical knowledge on: chemistry, material science, industrial chemistry and catalysis, engineering of devices, characterization of solids, testing of photo/electro materials, analysis of the mechanisms of solarinduced processes in nanomaterials, assessment methodologies.Transferable skills: team working in an international context, a problem-solver approach and critical thinking, research skills from fundamental to applied and industrial, capability of autonomous operations and leadership, managing and report in international projects, communication skills.

The research team where the PhD student will operate is composed of two full professors, four associate professors, three researchers, and about 15-20 PhD/post-docs on aspects related to the development of sustainable processes for chemistry and energy (are industrial chemistry and engineering), with an interdisciplinary approach combining chemistry, material science, engineering, and physics. The research team has many running international EU projects, including an ERC Synergy, and well established international (worldwide) collaborations and networks with research centers and companies in the area of catalysis for clean energy and CO2 conversion, sustainable processes, and technologies beyond fossil fuels. The students will operate at the CASPE center (Laboratory of Catalysis for Sustainable Production and Energy) of the University of Messina (and reference center for the InterUniversity Consortium INSTM on science and technology of materials, which has spaces and advanced equipment (ww2.Unime.It/catalysis) suitable for carrying out the planned research. The spaces available to the CASPE center, following the recent renovation, are approximately 550 m2 (in five modules, two of which are dedicated to laboratory systems for catalytic testing (including photo and electrocatalytic systems), three for the instrumental characterization of catalysts, and their synthesis. The research will deal with the development (synthesis, characterization, and testing) of the nanomaterials/electrodes for the artificial leaf device, their study, and engineering, and the assessment of the technology. PhD students will typically operate in close collaboration with other early-stage researchers, under direct supervision by one or more experienced researchers, and one professor.