Effects of interfacial ions on electrocatalytic reactions for green hydrogen production and fuel cells

This project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of how interfacial ions affect electrocatalytic reactions in fuel cells, and green hydrogen production.

Recently, it was shown that ions from the electrolyte can play a big role in determining the catalytic activity (efficiency) of the reaction, but the mechanisms are not yet fully understood since it is experimentally very difficult to selectively probe ions in operando at the electrode-electrolyte interface where the reactions take place.

In this project I will use platinum electrodes with nanometric pores, inside which, a large fraction of the electrolyte is in contact with the electrode.

Therefore, spectroscopic measurements conducted on the mesoporous electrodes will show very strong signals from the electrode-electrolyte interface. This will allow me to detect interfacial ions in operando with soft X-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.

I will perform research at Leiden University during the first two years in a world-leading electrochemistry group and collaborate with staff at MAX IV, Sweden, and BESSY II, Germany where the synchrotron soft X-ray experiments will be carried out. The last year I will be stationed at KTH to continue the research.

A fundamental understanding of the effects of interfacial ions on electrocatalytic activity opens up the possibility of engineering the electrolyte composition to improve the activity and selectivity of electrocatalytic systems important for green energy technologies.