Supervisor: Yevheniia Lobko, Ph.D.
Status: Available
Abstract:
Annotation
The performance of catalytic materials in electrochemical energy conversion systems is governed by processes occurring at their surfaces and at interfaces with the surrounding environment. Structural and electronic transformations of catalyst surfaces under electrochemical conditions influence adsorption, charge transfer, and reaction pathways, thereby determining catalytic activity and stability.
This doctoral research will investigate surface structure, electronic properties, and metal–support interactions in transition-metal nanoparticle catalysts. Particular attention will be devoted to how surface composition, atomic arrangement, and electronic structure affect adsorption processes, reaction mechanisms, and catalyst stability under electrochemical conditions.
The structure, morphology, and surface chemistry of the nanoparticles will be studied using advanced characterization techniques. Electron microscopy (TEM, SEM) will be used to determine particle morphology and size distribution, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) will provide information on surface composition and electronic states. Additional diffraction and spectroscopic methods will be applied to obtain structural information about the materials. Electrochemical performance and reaction pathways will be evaluated using rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) measurements. A key aspect of the research will be operando and near-operando surface studies, particularly using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, enabling the observation of changes in surface composition and electronic states during electrochemical operation.
By combining electrochemical analysis with surface-sensitive characterization, the project aims to establish relationships between catalytic activity, surface structure, and interfacial phenomena in nanostructured catalytic systems for hydrogen conversion technologies.
Literature
• O’Hayre, Ryan P., Suk-Won Cha, Whitney G. Colella, and F. B. Prinz. Fuel Cell Fundamentals. Third edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2016. ISNB 978-1-119-11415-4 978-1-119-11420-8.
• Zhang, Jiujun, ed. PEM Fuel Cell Electrocatalysts and Catalyst Layers: Fundamentals and Applications. London: Springer, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84800-935-3.