Nanostructured Energy Materials

Mission statement: Electrocatalysts are the essential component accelerating reactions at electrified solid/liquid interfaces to create efficient fuel cells or electrolyzers in green energy applications. Our well-controlled physical and chemical synthesis routes shall yield innovative and scalable materials with nanoscale-defined reaction sites enhancing power density in electric energy storage and forthcoming industrial energy conversion processes. We consider the influence of “inert” electrolyte species on electrocatalytic performance. Rational strategies bear in mind the needs of commercial applications, and development is driven by detailed characterization of metallic and non-metallic catalytic entities and advanced testing.

Group Leader

 

Alumni

Kais Sadraoui (MSc, 2022)

Yamen Taji (MSc, 2022)

Eduard Antics (MSc, 2023)

Sarah Kühn (BSc, 2023)

Theophilus Kobina Sarpey (PhD, October 2023, currently at GSI Darmstadt)

Michael Kopp (MSc, 2023)

Adrian Himmelreich (MSc, 2023)

Irina Ivanova (2024)

Dominik Maier (MSc, 2024)

Andreas Wirler (MSc, 2024)

Sara Walcher (BSc, 2024)

Johannes André Fischer (MSc, 2024)

Giovanni Postacchini (2024)

Hannah Zschernig (BSc, 2024)

Markus Brauner (BSc, 2024)

Moritz Thiel (MSc, 2024)

Xinhai Zhang (MSc, 2024)

 

Recent Publications:

- Y. Zhang, Q. Liao, E.L. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. Relations between structure, composition, and selectivity in electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate-ions // Current Opinion in Electrochemistry ^IF=7.9 (2025) 101643

- C. Schott, L. Hofbauer, E. Gubanova, P. Schneider, A.S. Bandarenka. Scanning impedance microscopy under oxygen reduction reaction conditions. Proof of the concept // Electrochimica Acta ^IF=5.5 513 (2025) 145533

- A. Ngoipala⁽¹⁾, C. Schott⁽¹⁾, V. Briega-Martos⁽¹⁾, M. Qamar⁽¹⁾, M. Mrovec, S.J. Nikkhah, T.O. Schmidt, L. Deville, A. Capogrosso, L. Moumaneix, T. Kallio, A. Viola, F. Maillard, R. Drautz, A.S. Bandarenka, S. Cherevko, M. Vandichel, E.L. Gubanova. Hydride-induced reconstruction of Pd electrode surfaces: a combined computational and experimental study // Advanced Materials ^IF=27.4  37 (2025) 2410951

- C.M. Schott, P.M. Schneider, K. Sadraoui, K.-T. Song, B. Garlyyev, S.A. Watzele, J. Michalička, J. Macak, A. Viola, F. Maillard, A. Senyshyn, J.A. Fischer, A.S. Bandarenka, E.L. Gubanova. A Top-Down Surfactant-Free Synthesis of Supported Palladium Nanostructured Catalysts // Small Science ^IF=11.1 4 (2024)  2300241

- C. Schott, P. Schneider, K.T. Song, H. Yu, R. Götz, F. Haimerl, E. Gubanova, J. Zhou, T. Schmidt, Q. Zhang, V. Alexandrov, A.S. Bandarenka. How to assess and predict electrical double layer properties. Implications for electrocatalysis (cover image) // Chemical Reviews ^IF=51.4 124 (2024) 12391-12462

- T.K. Sarpey⁽¹⁾, A.V. Himmelreich⁽¹⁾, K.-T. Song, E.L. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. The electrocatalytic activity of Au electrodes changes significantly in various Na⁺/K⁺ supporting electrolyte mixtures // Small Science ^IF=11.1 4 (2024) 202400042

- P.M. Schneider⁽¹⁾, C.M. Schott⁽¹⁾, D. Maier, S.A. Watzele, J. Michalička, J. Rodriguez-Pereira, L. Hromadko, J. Macak, V. Baran, A. Senyshyn, A. Viola, F. Maillard, E.L. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. Top-down surfactant-free electrosynthesis of Magnéli phase Ti₉O₁₇ nanowires // Materials Advances ^IF=5.2 5 (2024) 2368-2376

- S. Xue⁽¹⁾, P. Chaudhary⁽¹⁾, M.R. Nouri⁽¹⁾, E. Gubanova, B. Garlyyev, V. Alexandrov, A.S. Bandarenka. Impact of Pt(hkl) electrode surface structure on the electrical double layer capacitance // J. American Chem. Soc. ^IF=14.4 146 (2024) 3883-3889

- T.K. Sarpey, E. Keles, E.L. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. Probing the electrified solid-liquid interfaces with laser-induced transient techniques. In: Encyclopedia of Solid-Liquid Interfaces, K. Wandelt and G. Bussetti, Ed. Elsevier: Amsterdam, 2024 (43-58)

- H. Yu, C. Schott, T. Schmidt, P.M. Schneider, K.-T. Song, Q. Zhang, A. Capogrosso, L. Deville, E. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. Investigation of active electrocatalytic centers under reaction conditions using operando microscopies // Current Opinion in Electrochemistry ^IF=7.9  42 (2023) 101386

- T.O. Schmidt, R.W. Haid, E.L. Gubanova, R.M. Kluge, A.S. Bandarenka. Electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy as a tool for the detection of active electrocatalytic sites // Topics in Catalysis ^IF=2.8 (2023) 66 (2023) 1270-1279

- K.-T. Song⁽¹⁾, C.M. Schott⁽¹⁾, P.M. Schneider, S.A. Watzele, R.M. Kluge, E.L. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. Combining impedance and hydrodynamic methods in electrocatalysis. Characterization of Pt(pc), Pt₅Gd, and nanostructured Pd for the hydrogen evolution reaction // Journal of Physics: Energy ^IF=7.0 5 (2023) 014016

- S. Watzele, B. Garlyyev, E. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. Structure-reactivity relations in electrocatalysis, a book chapter 617 in: Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry III / Eds. R.A. van Santen, E.J.M. Hensen, J. Reedijk - Elsevier, 2023, ISBN 9780124095472, 419-436

- Y. Taji, A. Zagalskaya, I. Evazzade, S. Watzele, K.-T. Song, S. Xue, C. Schott, B. Garlyyev, V. Alexandrov, E. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka. Alkali metal cations change the hydrogen evolution reaction mechanisms at Pt electrodes in alkaline media // Nano Materials Science ^IF=12.6 (2022) accepted

- E. Gubanova, T.O. Schmidt, S. Watzele, V. Alexandrov, A.S. Bandarenka. Structure-dependent electrical double layer capacitances of the basal plane Pd(hkl) electrodes in HClO₄ // J. Phys. Chem. C ^IF=3.3 126 (2022) 11414-11420

- T.O. Schmidt,⁽¹⁾ A. Ngoipala,⁽¹⁾ R.L. Arevalo,  S.A. Watzele, R. Lipin, R.M. Kluge, S. Hou, R.W. Haid, A. Senyshyn, E.L. Gubanova, A.S. Bandarenka, M. Vandichel. Elucidation of structure-activity relations in proton electroreduction at Pd surfaces. Theoretical and experimental study // Small ^IF=13.0 18 (2022) 2202410

- S. Hou,⁽¹⁾ R.M. Kluge,⁽¹⁾ R.W. Haid,⁽¹⁾ E.L. Gubanova, S.A. Watzele, A.S. Bandarenka, B. Garlyyev. A review on experimental identification of active sites in model bifunctional electrocatalytic systems for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions // ChemElectroChem ^IF=3.5 8 (2021) 3433-3456