This course, Advanced Water Electrolysis Kinetics, delves into the cutting-edge techniques and materials used to enhance water electrolysis processes for hydrogen and oxygen production. Students will explore the synthesis and application of heterostructural catalysts, focusing on iron-cobalt-nickel sulphides with crystalline/amorphous interfaces (CAI). The course emphasizes the role of CAI in improving the catalytic activity and stability of these materials, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental studies. Key topics include:
- Mechanisms of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER)
- Synthesis of trimetallic FeCo(NiS2)4 catalysts and their structural characterization
- The impact of CAI on water-splitting efficiency
- Advanced characterization techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
- Practical applications and future directions in sustainable hydrogen production
By the end of the course, students will have a thorough understanding of the advanced kinetics of water electrolysis and the latest developments in catalyst design, equipping them with the knowledge to contribute to the field of sustainable energy.