OERKOP ANR project

Oxygen evolution reaction: the key to optimize photocatalytic water oxidation (01/04/2023 – 31/03/2027)

The ANR OERKOP project aims to understand and describe the mechanisms underlying the OER for co-catalyst modified hematite photoanodes, by using a correlative operando characterization approach at the nanoscale. OERKOP proposes a comparative study between two archetypal materials used as photoanodes: α-Fe₂O₃ and BiVO₄, both catalytically activated by oxyhydroxide catalysts (M-OOH, with M = Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn). Surface kinetics and time stability during the oxidation will be systematically evaluated. We intend combining multi-scale and multi-selective techniques – scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Both techniques will employ a common sample environment in a dedicated photoelectrochemical cell. Complementary DFT calculations will allow dissecting complex effects and determining the reaction priorities of different photocatalytic sites.

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Consortium

ANR funding of the OERKOP project

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Positions

PhD 1 : Bilal MEDDAS started his PhD thesis in January 2024 at SPEC and SOLEIL

PhD 2 : Meyssa MOCKBEL started her PhD thesis in September 2024 at SOLEIL / IPCMS

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Preliminary works and results:

• Scanning transmission X-ray spectromicroscopy: a nanotool to probe hematite nanorods for solar water splitting, Stefan Stanescu, Dana Stanescu, Adam Hitchcock
  • preprint March 2023 https://chemrxiv.org/engage/chemrxiv/articledetails/640de8d7b5d5dbe9e825c049;
  • Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena 265 (2023) 147334, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elspec.2023.147334
• Enhancement of the Solar Water Splitting Efficiency Mediated by Surface Segregation in Ti-doped Hematite Nanorods, Stanescu S, Alun T, Dappe YJ, Ihiawakrim D, Ersen O, Stanescu D.
  • preprint February 2023 https://chemrxiv.org/engage/chemrxiv/article-details/643c03bc73c6563f14fae441
  • ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c02131  
• Characterizing surface states in hematite nanorod photoanodes, both beneficial and detrimental to solar water splitting efficiency, Dana Stanescu, Mekan Piriyev, Victoria Villard, Cristian Mocuta, Adrien Besson, Dris Ihiawakrim, Ovidiu Ersen, Jocelyne Leroy, Sorin G. Chiuzbaian, Adam P. Hitchcock, Stefan Stanescu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 20513-20530, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TA06524B; hal-02934466

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Results dissemination during OERKOP

Highlights:

2023 : Des matériaux simples et abondants pour une énergie future propre et efficace :

Voir les pages :

• Sur le site internet du synchrotron Soleil
• Sur le site internet du CEA-Iramis

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Oral and poster presentations

• Efficient Strategies To Optimize Photoelectrochemical Activity of Hematite-based Photoanodes (poster)
  Bilal Meddas , Léon Schmidt, Jean Baptiste Boy, Karine Chaouchi, Stéphanie Blanchandin, Walid Baaziz, Yannick Dappe, Ovidiu Ersen, Ştefan Stănescu, and Dana Stănescu.
  ECATALYTIX, X-rays and electronic operando techniques for electrocatalysis – April 3-5, 2024, Strasbourg (France)
• Enhancement of the Solar Water Splitting Efficiency Mediated by Surface Segregation in Ti-doped Hematite Nanorods (oral)
  Ştefan Stănescu, Leon Schmidt , Yannick J. Dappe, Dris Ihiawakrim, W. Baaziz, Ovidiu Ersen, Dana Stănescu,
  8th International Conference on Catalysis and Chemical Engineering – February 29, 2024 | Boston, MA (USA)
• Band engineering of Earth abundant materials for efficient solar water splitting (oral)
  Ştefan Stănescu, Yannick J. Dappe, Stéphanie Blanchandin, Karine Chaouchi, Dris Ihiawakrim, Ovidiu Ersen, Dana Stănescu,
  18^th SUM2024, 18 & 19 janvier 2024, SOLEIL Synchrotron (France)
• Correlative in situ microscopy study of photoanodes used in solar water splitting applications (oral)
  Léon Schmidt, Walid Baaziz, Dana Stănescu, Ştefan Stănescu, Ovidiu Ersen,
  The 20^th International Microscopy Congress (IMC20), September 10-15, 2023, Busan (Korea)
• Correlative in situ microscopy study of photoanodes for solar water splitting (oral)
  Léon Schmidt, Walid Baaziz, Dana Stănescu, Ştefan Stănescu, Ovidiu Ersen,
  18^ème Colloque de la Société Française des Microscopies, 3 au 7 juillet 2023, Rouen (France)

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Scientific preprints and peer-review articles

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Internship and PhD thesis

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Meetings

1. Kick-off meeting: Date: 20^th of April 2023 @SPEC
2. ANR work meeting (video): 25th of January 2024

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Internship and PhD thesis

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OERKOP meetings

1. Kick-off meeting: Date: 20^th of April 2023 @SPEC
2. ANR work meeting (video): 25^th of January 2024

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