Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage
Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage
Disciplines
Chemistry (50%); Nanotechnology (25%); Physics, Astronomy (25%)
Keywords
-
Energy Conversion,
Energy Storage,
Surfaces,
Interfaces,
Electrocatalysis,
Photocatalysis
The continued combustion of fossil fuels to satisfy a growing energy demand have led the world to the brink of a climate crisis. We can no longer transfer carbon from the lithosphere into the atmosphere to obtain our energy, chemicals, materials, and fuels. Instead, we must re-cycle elements already present in the atmosphere or biosphere to produce recyclable carriers for renewable energy. Closing the associated water and carbon dioxide cycles will be crucial for this challenge, as this holds the key to store sustainable energy in synthetic chemicals (=fuels). Our vision is to create a leading Energy Materials Research Centre enabling the understanding and design of efficient energy conversion, paving the way towards a fossil fuel-free society. Abundant molecules such as water and carbon dioxide are the ideal feedstock for the chemical storage of energy created from renewable sources. Two potential routes are splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen, and converting carbon dioxide into higher-value products: commodity chemicals (formic acid, formaldehyde, methanol, methane as substitute natural gas), and fuels (longer-chain alkanes, olefines). The most-promising conversion processes are electrocatalysis (using electricity) and photocatalysis (using sunlight), but they suffer from low efficiencies and the need for precious metal catalysts. We need to replace rare with abundant elements or discover alternative, inexpensive catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability. To achieve these goals, we need to understand the fundamental processes, mechanisms, and material properties of photo- and electrocatalysts at the most basic, the atomic scale. We also need to establish how the surfaces/interfaces function on a molecular level over a wide parameter range, particularly under the working conditions of the catalysts. A long-term secondary goal of MECS will be to transfer the fundamental understanding and design of advanced energy materials to applications via interactions with industry and relevant stakeholders. The multi-faceted nature of the problem calls for a interdisciplinary approach exploiting synergies and cross- fertilization. This COE brings together our country`s best minds and provides them with the means to cooperate and create a sustainable network that promises scientific breakthroughs and attracts future talent. The team includes experts in physics, chemistry, surface and material science, and leaders in computational modeling. Promoting young scientists, the COE includes a structured doctorate program for PhDs and special training for postdocs and early career researchers. Interactions with stakeholders will be intertwined with scientific and technical studies. The Board of Directors includes Ulrike Diebold (TU Wien), Stefan Freunberger (IST Austria), Leticia Gonzlez (Universität Wien), Julia Kunze-Liebhäuser (Universität Innsbruck), and Günther Rupprechter (TU Wien; Director of Research).
-
Director of Research (17.10.2022 - )
-
Board of Directors (17.10.2022 - )
-
Board of Directors (17.10.2022 - )
-
Board of Directors (17.10.2022 - )
-
Board of Directors (17.10.2022 - )
-
Alexander Opitz, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Alexey Cherevan, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Dominik Eder, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Florian Libisch, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Gareth Parkinson, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Georg Kent Hellerup Madsen, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Jürgen Fleig, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Katharina Schröder, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Markus Valtiner, Technische Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Davide Bonifazi, Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Georg Kresse, Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Jani Kotakoski, Universität Wien (31.3.2023 -)
-
Christoph Rameshan, Montanuniversität Leoben (3.7.2024 -)
- Jan Rossmeisl, University of Copenhagen - Denmark
- Andreas Stierle, Deutsches Elektronensynchrotron - Germany
- Martin Bram, Forschungszentrum Jülich - Germany
- Norbert H. Menzler, Forschungszentrum Jülich - Germany
- Karsten Reuter, Fritz-Haber-Institut d. Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Berlin - Germany
- Aliaksandr Bandarenka, Technical University of Munich - Germany
- Nicola Armaroli, ISOF - Italy
- Luca Gregoratti, Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste - Italy
- Livia B. Pártay, University of Warwick - United Kingdom
Research Output
- 8 Publications
-
2024
Title Enhanced photochemical effects of plasmonic cluster catalysts through aggregated nanostructures DOI 10.1039/d4gc00560k Type Journal Article Author Hu X Journal Green Chemistry Pages 6994-7001 -
2024
Title Harnessing a Ti-based MOF for selective adsorption and visible-light-driven water remediation DOI 10.1039/d4ta01967a Type Journal Article Author Myakala S Journal Journal of Materials Chemistry A Link Publication -
2024
Title Engineering Materials for Catalysis DOI 10.3390/catal14050293 Type Journal Article Author Pintar A Journal Catalysts Pages 293 Link Publication -
2024
Title Allantoin-modified Cu@NiCo-MOF nanocubes as an effective catalyst for propargylamine synthesis DOI 10.1016/j.matlet.2024.137015 Type Journal Article Author Pan Y Journal Materials Letters Pages 137015 -
2024
Title Single atoms and metal nanoclusters anchored to graphene vacancies DOI 10.1016/j.micron.2024.103667 Type Journal Article Author Trentino A Journal Micron Pages 103667 Link Publication -
2024
Title Defect-Rich CuZn Nanoparticles for Model Catalysis Produced by Femtosecond Laser Ablation DOI 10.1021/acsami.4c07766 Type Journal Article Author Lasemi N Journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Link Publication -
2024
Title MOCHAs: An Emerging Class of Materials for Photocatalytic H2 Production DOI 10.1002/smll.202400348 Type Journal Article Author Myakala S Journal Small Link Publication -
2024
Title Spatially resolved uncertainties for machine learning potentials DOI 10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-k27ps Type Preprint Author Heid E Link Publication