Atomic Engineering of Catalytic Sites for Water Splitting and Beyond: Toward Sustainable Solar-to-Chemical Conversion

Converting solar energy into storable and transportable fuels offers a promising strategy to overcome the intermittency of solar irradiation. Among various approaches, solar-powered electrolysis is considered an industrially viable pathway for large-scale green chemical production. Atomic-level engineering of electrocatalysts provides an effective means to tailor the electronic structures of both the catalyst and the support, thereby enhancing the activity and durability of water electrolysis. In this talk, I will present two targeted strategies to improve the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic media.

In parallel, photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactions stand out for their ability to directly convert solar energy into chemical energy. While notable progress has been made in PEC hydrogen production, expanding PEC technologies to broader green chemical synthesis requires advancements in both photoelectrode performance and reaction selectivity. I will highlight atomic engineering strategies to enhance kesterite-based photoelectrodes through two complementary approaches: optimising photogenerated charge carrier dynamics and tuning surface catalytic sites. These efforts have led to significant improvements in PEC performance for CO₂ reduction, ammonia synthesis, and water splitting.

Together, these findings underscore the critical role of atomic-level control in designing efficient photo- and electrocatalytic systems, providing robust strategies for advancing solar-to-chemical energy conversion technologies.

About the presenter:

Dr Shujie Zhou obtained her PhD degree from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 2023 under the supervision of Scientia Prof. Rose Amal, Scientia Prof. Xiaojing Hao and Dr. Cui Ying Toe. She is currently a postdoctoral research associate in ARC Training Centre for the Global Hydrogen Economy (GlobH2E) and ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation (COE-CSI) in School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW.

Her research focuses on renewable solar energy conversion and green chemical production, with expertise in photoelectrocatalysis and electrocatalysis. She aims to develop catalysts and photoactive materials free from critical raw materials to enable the sustainable synthesis of value-added chemicals such as green hydrogen, fuels, and ammonia through processes including CO₂ reduction, waste NOₓ conversion, biomass reforming, and water splitting.

Dr. Zhou has demonstrated strong expertise in material design, system engineering, and techno-economic evaluation to enhance solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency. She is also proficient in applying advanced characterisation techniques, including synchrotron-based spectroscopies, to elucidate structure activity relationships in catalytic systems.

She has published 42 peer-reviewed articles with over 2,350 citations (H-index: 22) in leading journals including Nature Energy, Nature Photonics, Advanced Materials, and Angewandte Chemie. Her research is also closely aligned with industry applications, supported by collaborations with industry partners such as Baker Hughes and Warp Energy.

Enquiries

For more information about the presentation, please contact GETCO2 via getco2@uq.edu.au