PhD thesis supervisor: dr. Virginija Kepenienė (apply for recommendation)
Influence of catalyst supports on the activity of electrocatalytic materials for fuel cell oxidation and reduction reactions
In the development of electrocatalysts for renewable energy sources, the efficiency of these catalysts is influenced not only by the active material utilized, but also by the judicious selection of a suitable support material. The employment of diverse supports, including carbon, graphene, doped carbon, metal oxides, and their hybrids, facilitates the modulation of metal-support interaction, surface chemistry, and nanostructure. This, in turn, can yield synergistic effects that enhance catalytic activity and stability. The present doctoral research endeavor will investigate the influence of the support material on the overall properties of catalysts, their activity, and their stability in fuel cell oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. It is hypothesized that by adapting the structural and chemical properties of the support, there will be an increase in the active surface area, an improvement in the dispersion of noble metal nanoparticles, and a reduction in the amount of noble metals. The objective of the present study is to ascertain the structure, properties, and activity relationships of the different supports; to provide essential insights into the effect of the utilized support; to contribute to the development of efficient, stable, and economical electrocatalysts for fuel cell applications.