High-Throughput Optimization of Sustainable Energy Conversion Catalysts Under Real World Device-like Application Conditions

To meet the challenges of climate change and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, there is great interest in producing sustainable fuels and chemicals using electrolysis. To make electrolysers competitive with fossil fuels, costs must be reduced. New types of catalysts with high performance and little to no precious metal content are crucial for this. However, newly developed, alternative electrocatalysts that have been tested in the laboratory often show significantly different performance in real application devices.

Dr. Schröder's research project aims to close the knowledge gap between the controlled conditions of basic research and the complex environment of an application device. The ultimate goal is to use resource-efficient catalysts without precious metals to accelerate the transition to electrolysers for the production of cost-effective, sustainable fuels.