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Electrochemical study of novel materials for energy conversion application
Novčić, Katarina ; Rees, Neil (oponent) ; Kim, Daewoo (oponent) ; Pumera, Martin (vedoucí práce)
A promising alternative to resolve the current energy and environmental crisis lies in the utilization of electrochemical water splitting via hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Therefore, there is urgency for investigation and development of new electrocatalysts for the energy conversion application. Different novel materials have been promising electrocatalysts for the HER. Among them, two-dimensional (2D) materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), MAX phases and MXenes have drawn much attention due to their distinctive electrochemical properties. Even though 3D-printing opened the way for the fast prototyping and manufacturing of electrode devices, their merging with different 2D materials still remains challenging. This Thesis deals with the electrochemical study of different novel materials for energy conversion applications and clean hydrogen production. It represents a study on the macroscopic and microscopic electrochemical performance of modified 3D-printed nanocarbon electrodes and TMDs, MAX phase, and MXene electrocatalysts. The macroscopic electrochemical activity is examined by traditional techniques such as voltammetry, providing information about the average electrochemical performance of the materials. Additionally, their microscopic electrochemical activity is performed by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), which gives an insight into the local differences in the materials' electrochemical activity and provides information about the distribution and uniformity of the HER active sites on the material surfaces. This Thesis has broad implications for the general understanding of the electrocatalytic performance of novel 2D materials, which is important for their future development as electrocatalysts.
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Designing novel catalyst loaded electrode materials towards electrochemical sensing to energy applications
Kandambath Padinjareveetil, Akshay Kumar ; Escarpa, Alberto (oponent) ; Vidal, Salvador Pané (oponent) ; Pumera, Martin (vedoucí práce)
The exponential increase in energy crises along with rising health issues is causing enormous risks to the survival of human life on Earth. Immense research is being undertaken currently to find an ideal solution to overcome these global challenges. Employing electrochemical energy technologies are thus in high demand to mitigate the growing energy requirements along with fabricating newer electrocatalysts that are cheap, efficient, and durable for utilization of such devices for large-scale commercial applications. Although several catalyst materials are being periodically studied, there is a need for more advanced studies in this direction. In the present study, newer catalyst fabrication techniques are introduced to develop application-specific catalysts for hydrogen and ammonia production. Also, with the broadening scope of the 3D-printing technology in recent times, electrocatalysts fabrication via this technology towards electrocatalytic applications such as hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis, and carbon dioxide mitigation are discussed in detail. In addition to catalysis, the current thesis also evaluates the potential possibilities of using 3D-printing technology for healthcare applications such as electrochemical sensors and emergency applications. In short, the thesis aims to provide an understanding of the recent advancements in electrocatalyst fabrications along with providing a fundamental foundation in designing, and engineering active electrode materials for energy conversion and electrochemical sensing applications.
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