The investigation of electrochemical catalysts by operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is essential to understand the processes occurring at the material-electrolyte interface under reaction conditions, with the goal to subsequently improve the catalyst. Electrochemical reactions of high interest are, for instance, water splitting (OER, HER) for the production of green hydrogen, and the CO₂ reduction reaction for production of high-value chemical products. However, under industrially relevant conditions with high current densities, dynamic potential changes and elevated temperatures, operando XAS measurements become extremely challenging, due to the strong O₂ bubble evolution on the catalyst surface during water splitting. We approach this challenge by a combining advanced electrochemical flow cells, refined spectroscopic approaches and advanced data analysis. The scope is to unravel the structural changes and the mechanism even under strong bubble evolution at high potentials of up to 1.6 V and temperatures of up to 80 °C.

Doctoral researcher: Rui Huang

Postdoctoral researchers: Paolo Ciocci, Merve Kurt

Available positions for students