The integration of renewable energy generation, electrocatalytic reactions, and rechargeable secondary batteries is pivotal for advancing the global transition to a green circular economy. Technologies such as water electrolysis, rechargeable zinc-air batteries, and fuel cells present sustainable alternatives to conventional fossil fuels for the production of green hydrogen and power. A key factor in the efficiency of these technologies is the use of electrocatalysts to drive crucial reactions.

Linlin Yang, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Barcelona and the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, will present research on the design and control of functional nanomaterials for energy storage applications. The seminar will discuss several key strategies in electrocatalyst design and optimization. The discussion will include thickness regulation of 2D nanosheets through a facile alkylamine-confined growth strategy, which allows precise control of thickness from 6 nm to 1 nm. Innovations in spin state modulation for enhancing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in zinc-air batteries will also be presented, achieved through the engineering of Ni/MnFe₂O₄ heterojunctions. This strategy significantly improves catalytic performance by optimizing OH⁻ and O₂ adsorption and aligning oxygen intermediates. Additionally, the seminar will introduce the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) in direct urea fuel cells (DUFCs), showcasing the high performance of self-supported NiO nanosheets on CuO nanowires, which achieve a current density of 100 mA/cm² and power densities of 11.35 mW/cm².

The seminar is scheduled for 11:00 AM on September 19, 2024, at ICFO. We warmly welcome everyone to participate and engage in discussions.