Supervisor: Mgr. Yurii Yakovlev, Ph.D.
ConsultantYevheniia Lobko, Ph.D.
Status: Available
Abstract:
Abstract
The growing demand for low emission technologies requires the development of advanced energy systems that rely on efficient and durable catalytic materials. Hydrogen-based technologies, particularly fuel cells and electrolyzers are emerging as key components of future decarbonized energy infrastructure. Their performance, however, depends heavily on catalysts that should be both active and cost effective. Traditional systems rely on large amounts of platinum, increasing costs and limiting scalability. The proposed PhD research focuses on the design, synthesis, and optimization of nanostructured catalysts with high activity, long-term stability, and reduced precious metal content. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding how morphology, crystallinity, surface defects, and electronic structure influence catalytic behavior. The project aims to directly bridge a surface science approach with catalyst optimization, establishing clear relationships between atomic scale surface features and macroscopic electrochemical performance.
The research will combine wet chemical synthesis routes and magnetron sputtering techniques to fabricate catalysts with controlled nanoscale architecture and tunable surface terminations. Their performance will be evaluated under realistic operating conditions using structural (SEM), compositional (XPS/EDX), and electrochemical characterization (R(R)DE). A key component of the project is the application of surface sensitive ex-situ and operando methods, particularly X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near ambient pressure XPS, to monitor changes in oxidation state, adsorbate interactions, and surface reconstruction during catalytic turnover. Electrochemical processes at the interfaces will be extensively studied to understand how surface chemistry evolves under working conditions.
The research is expected to deliver novel highly efficient catalysts suitable for hydrogen production and utilization systems, along with a mechanistic understanding grounded in surface science methodology. By revealing how specific surface govern reaction pathways, the project will provide a foundation for the rational design of future catalyst architectures. These results will support the transition toward sustainable and economically viable hydrogen technologies.
Keywords:
hydrogen technologies, electrocatalysis, nanostructured catalysts, platinum reduction, fuel cells, operando spectroscopy
Literature:
• Manjinder Singh, Dasu Ram Paudel, Hayoung Kim, Tae Hyeong Kim, Jaejun Park, Seunghyun Lee. Interface engineering strategies for enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. Energy Advances, vol. 4, 2025, pp. 716-742. RSC Publishing.
• San Ping Jiang, Qingfeng Li. Introduction to Fuel Cells: Electrochemistry and Materials. Springer Nature, 2022. ISBN 978-981-10-7626-8.
• Marc Koper, Andrzej Wieckowski. Fuel Cell Catalysis: A Surface Science Approach. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2009. ISBN 978-0-470-13116-9.