Nanocolloquium Seminar: “Oxygen Evolution Catalysis in Acid Media with Heterogeneous Earth-Abundant Metal Complexes,” Prof. José Ramon Galan-Mascaros (Institut Catala d’Investigacio Quimica), UNAM Conference Hall, 4PM March 2 (EN)

Dear Colleagues and Students,

You are cordially invited to UNAM Nanocolloquium seminars focusing on advancements in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The seminars bring us the most recent developments in these exciting fields.

The forth talk of this spring term will be presented by Professor Jose Ramon Galan-Mascaros*

Title: Oxygen evolution catalysis in acid media with heterogeneous earth-abundant metal complexes
Date: March 2, 2017 (Friday)
Time: 16:00**
Place: UNAM Conference Hall

ABSTRACT –
Water oxidation is considered the bottleneck in the development of an efficient and cost-effective water splitting technology. State-of-the-art water electrolyzers are still far from being competitive with steam reforming, the cheap and well-established hydrogen production scheme from fossil fuels. One of the challenges resides in substituting the expensive noble metal catalysts by earth-abundant counterparts while maintaining the efficiency and performance required for technological applications. Inexpensive transition metal oxides are very competitive catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) but exclusively in alkaline media. However, they cannot compete with noble metals in acid media, where hydrogen production is easiest due to the high proton concentration (substrate). Here we will present our most recent results in the search for inexpensive, robust and fast water oxidation catalysts able to promote water oxidation at low overpotentials in acid media. In particular, we will explore the acidic activity of polyoxometalates and cyanides in this key step for the realization of cost-competitive electrolytic hydrogen production.

About the Speaker:
Dr. J. R. Galan-Mascaros holds a Degree in Chemistry from the University of Valencia and the Imperial College (London) and a PhD from the University of Valencia in materials science (1999). Between 1999 and 2002 he was post-doctoral researcher at Texas A&M University (College Station) working with Prof. Kim R. Dunbar. As associated researcher at University of Valencia (2002-2009), he established novel strategies for building up multifunctionality in hybrid/composite molecular materials. In 2010 he became ICREA Research Professor at ICIQ, where he currently leads a research group focused on future applications of coordination chemistry for Renewable Energies and Materials Sciences. Galan-Mascaros has received several awards, including the Olivier Kahn International Award (2008) and an ERC Starting Grant (2012-2016). He is currently the coordinator of the project H2020-FETPROACT A-LEAF (2017-2020): a major European public investment for the realization of a viable artificial photosynthesis platform.
*Institut Catala d’Investigacio Quimica
** Refreshment will be served at 15:40