Research Overview
Renewable energy conversion and storage processes are essential to decarbonise our economy. Electrochemical energy conversion devices allow for converting renewable electricity and abundant feedstocks into green fuels and valuable chemicals (and vice versa). Electrocatalysis plays a key role in these sustainable energy conversion reactions. Discovering and developing new materials that are active, stable, and selective catalysts remains a great challenge for many important electrocatalytic reactions. Our research aims to address this challenge by investigating and engineering the structure of the catalytically active sites at the atomic level, developing advanced nanomaterials, and gaining a mechanistic understanding of relevant energy conversion reactions.
During electrocatalytic reactions, the active sites evolve and their dynamics depend on the structure of the electrode-electrolyte interface. Addressing the properties of the electrified interface is key to elucidating design principles and unveiling the structure-reactivity-selectivity relations. We combine the insight from model studies with advanced spectroscopic, microscopic, and synchrotron-based experiments under realistic conditions to investigate novel electrocatalyst materials. Ultimately, our work aims to discover, design, and develop tailored interfaces and nanomaterials for renewable energy and power-to-X processes.
Research Areas
Electrocatalysis for renewable hydrogen production
Discovering and developing novel electrocatalysts for water splitting is key to achieving the efficient production of green hydrogen. Our group investigates electrocatalyst materials and electrolyte effects for water electrolysis. Read more…
Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide
The use of renewable electricity to convert CO2 into clean fuels and chemicals is very promising. We investigate structure sensitivity and electrolyte effects for CO2 and CO electroreduction on well-defined electrified interfaces. Read more…
Electrochemical activation and oxidation of methane
Electrochemical methane to methanol conversion is highly attractive. However, it remains a grand challenge. We aim to develop tailored materials for electrochemical activation and partial oxidation of methane. Read more…
Electrocatalysis for low-temperature fuel cells
Fuel cells convert the chemical energy from hydrogen or liquid fuels such as formic acid directly into electricity. We investigate new catalyst materials for fuel-cell reactions including oxygen reduction and oxidation of liquid fuels such as formic acid. Read more…
Sustainable electrosynthesis of valuable chemicals
The build-up of simple base chemicals to value-added products is achievable with electrocatalysis. We investigate sustainable electrosynthesis reactions such as the production of dimethyl carbonate and propene partial oxidation to important commodity chemicals. Read more…
Surface nanostructuring and electrodeposition
Surface nanostructuring and controlled electrodeposition allow engineering the structure of the electrocatalytically active site for energy conversion and electrosynthesis reactions. Read more…
High entropy alloys for electrocatalysis
High entropy alloys (HEAs) have unique properties for electrocatalysis. In our group, we are interested in elucidating the structure-fuction relationships, as well as understanding and engineering the electrocatalytically active sites on HEAs. Read more…
In situ / operando characterisation of materials
We combine electrochemical methods, in situ/operando spectroscopy and microscopy, and advanced synchrotron-based x-ray characterisation techniques to identify, understand, visualise and engineer the catalytically active phase under reaction conditions. Read more…
