Seminar Dr. Han
Dr. Madeleine Han (CEA-LITEN et IRIG) will deliver a seminar on Thursday, January 29th at 10:30 AM in room 146
In response to the growing global energy demand, fuel cells and
water-splitting devices are considered promising technologies for energy
conversion and storage. However, the development of efficient
(electro)catalysts remains a major challenge to achieve the required
performance levels. Although several descriptors have been proposed to
guide the design of new catalytic materials, a comprehensive
understanding of reaction mechanisms and catalyst stability under
operando conditions is still essential to identify the key parameters
governing catalytic activity and durability.
Over the past decades, a wide range of operando characterization
techniques has been developed, both at large-scale facilities such as
synchrotrons (XAS, XRF, XRD, SAXS) and on other experimental platforms
(ILL, METSA, etc.). Nevertheless, the technical constraints inherent to
each operando setup raise questions regarding the reproducibility of
electrocatalytic behavior across different systems, as well as the
consistency between operando measurements and conventional
laboratory-scale experiments.
Similarly, scaling up electrochemical devices—for instance,
transitioning from rotating disk electrode measurements to differential
electrochemical cells—can significantly alter the observed
electrochemical response. A thorough understanding of the specific
features and limitations of each technique and device is therefore
required to draw robust and consistent conclusions about
electrocatalytic materials.
These issues will be discussed through the study of non-precious
metal-based nano-electrocatalysts, including Ni₃B (HER and OER),
perovskite oxides (OER and ORR), and Co₃O₄ (OER). The role and
characterization of carbon supports will also be addressed in a second
part of the presentation.
water-splitting devices are considered promising technologies for energy
conversion and storage. However, the development of efficient
(electro)catalysts remains a major challenge to achieve the required
performance levels. Although several descriptors have been proposed to
guide the design of new catalytic materials, a comprehensive
understanding of reaction mechanisms and catalyst stability under
operando conditions is still essential to identify the key parameters
governing catalytic activity and durability.
Over the past decades, a wide range of operando characterization
techniques has been developed, both at large-scale facilities such as
synchrotrons (XAS, XRF, XRD, SAXS) and on other experimental platforms
(ILL, METSA, etc.). Nevertheless, the technical constraints inherent to
each operando setup raise questions regarding the reproducibility of
electrocatalytic behavior across different systems, as well as the
consistency between operando measurements and conventional
laboratory-scale experiments.
Similarly, scaling up electrochemical devices—for instance,
transitioning from rotating disk electrode measurements to differential
electrochemical cells—can significantly alter the observed
electrochemical response. A thorough understanding of the specific
features and limitations of each technique and device is therefore
required to draw robust and consistent conclusions about
electrocatalytic materials.
These issues will be discussed through the study of non-precious
metal-based nano-electrocatalysts, including Ni₃B (HER and OER),
perovskite oxides (OER and ORR), and Co₃O₄ (OER). The role and
characterization of carbon supports will also be addressed in a second
part of the presentation.