TY - CONF A1 - Sediqi, Salmin T1 - Multi-principal element alloy nanoparticle (MPEA-NP) electrocatalysts prepared by pulsed laser ablation for electroreduction of CO2 N2 - Multi-principal element alloy (MPEA) nanoparticle electrocatalysts have the potential to provide a cost-effective and efficient alternative to noble metal electrocatalysts. The chemically complex nature and the high configurational entropy of MPEAs offer advantages in tailoring catalytic activity, product selectivity, and improved stability under harsh reaction conditions. Cu-containing bimetallic catalyst systems have already been demonstrated to lead to a significant increase in catalytic efficiency compared to monometallic systems. Thus, this project aims at the design of Cu-containing MPEAs and nanoparticle electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction reaction. In this project, base alloys were prepared by means of arc melting with subsequent homogenization treatments and processed by pulsed laser ablation in water and organic solvents into high-purity nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Electrochemical testing was performed both on bulk alloy samples and nanoparticle film coated glassy carbon electrodes by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Nanoparticle coated electrodes have been investigated by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM) to assure a homogeneous distribution on the electrode surface. The presentation will summarize our initial results on the electrocatalytic activity of Cu-MPEA system for carbon dioxide reduction. T2 - OPERANDO SPM 2023 CY - Berlin DA - 15.11.2023 KW - Chemically Complex Materials KW - CCMat KW - Electrocatalysis PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-59402 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sediqi, Salmin T1 - Multi-principal element alloy nanoparticle (MPEA-NP) electrocatalysts prepared by pulsed laser ablation for electroreduction of CO2 N2 - The motivation and overall objective of the project are to develop electrocatalysts that are free of noble metals (e.g., Pt or Au) and are instead based on medium and high entropy alloys (MEA\HEA) of transition metals for the electrochemical reduction of CO2. The MEA\HEA are multi principal element alloys (MPEAs) consisting of more than three elements with almost equal alloying proportions, forming solid solutions without intermetallic phases. In such a crystal structure, the individual elements are well mixed, and each atom has different nearest neighbours. In catalysis, especially in selectivity, it is precisely this atomic chaos that matters. Due to the large number of possible combinations of elements, these materials offer excellent conditions to tune their functional properties for specific applications. Especially, catalyst systems in which Cu is combined with another metallic component show a significant increase in catalytic efficiency compared to monometallic systems. Since the catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability of electrocatalysts strongly depend on the size and surface, systematic studies on the influence of the organic stabilizers on heterogeneous catalysis are also of interest. The focus of this project is to design Cu-based MEA\HEA electrocatalysts on the atomic level. For this purpose, base alloys will be prepared, processed into high-purity nanoparticles by pulsed laser ablation, and tested as electrocatalysts. T2 - Tag der Chemie 2023 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 05.07.2023 KW - Chemically Complex Materials KW - CCMat KW - Electrocatalysis PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-59403 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sediqi, Salbin T1 - Synthesis and characterization of multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) for electrocatalysis applications N2 - The aim of this project is the development of novel, noble metal-free electrocatalysts that do not rely on critical minerals. We focus on multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs), especially combinations involving Cu, to significantly enhance the efficiency of the CO2 reduction reaction. Generally, MPEAs consist of more than three elements, forming solid solutions without intermetallic phases. The unique disordered random structure introduces synergetic effects that play a critical role in electrocatalysis, particularly in terms of selectivity. The neraly-endless combinations of elements that can be incorporated in MPEAs offer ample opportunities to tailor its functionality for various applications. This study presents the development of thin films based on NiZnCu MPEAs for the CO2 reduction reaction. The one-step electrodeposition of NiZnCu films was performed on Cu substrates in a single bath using a Hull cell under constant current or potential. The influence of pH, additives and current density or potential on the composition and microstructure of the films was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the topography and surface roughness of the NiZnCu films. The results indicate that the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citrate enhances the uniformity and adhesion of the thin films. Electrochemical measurements, including cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were conducted to study the electrocatalytic activity and the corrosion resistance of NiZnCu thin films. The NiZnCu gradient films deposited in the Hull cell enable high-throughput screening of the electrocatalytic activity. With this approach, multiple compositions showing high activity, selectivity and stability were identified. Further analysis with in line / at line product analysis was performed using a rotating disc electrode setup coupled to gas chromotography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromotography (HPLC). The presentation will summarize the results of our screening study with few deep-dives in selected compositions showing superior performance. T2 - eMRS 2024 Spring Meeting CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 27.05.2024 KW - CCMat KW - Energy conversion KW - Electrocatalysis PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62633 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Moss, Caitlin T1 - Framework Materials for the Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate to Ammonia N2 - The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia offers a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process while simultaneously addressing the pressing issue of nitrate pollution in water sources. Developing efficient catalysts for this reaction is therefore vital for both environmental remediation and green ammonia production. Framework materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and coordination polymers present an emerging class of electrocatalytic materials due to their high surface area, tunable porosity, and structural modularity. Their ability to incorporate diverse metal centers and functional groups makes them promising candidates for selective and efficient nitrate reduction. In order to change and improve catalytic properties, different synthesis strategies can be pursued, such as metal alloying or calcination under different conditions. To fully understand and optimize these materials, advanced characterization techniques are essential to correlate structural features with catalytic performance, alongside in-situ methods for real-time mechanistic insights. T2 - Tag der Chemie 2025 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 03.07.2025 KW - Electrocatalysis KW - Electrochemisty KW - Framework Materials KW - Ammonia Synthesis KW - Nitrate Reduction PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63815 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schmalz, Alina T1 - Framework Materials for the Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate to Ammonia N2 - The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia offers a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process while simultaneously addressing the pressing issue of nitrate pollution in water sources. Developing efficient catalysts for this reaction is therefore vital for both environmental remediation and green ammonia production. Framework materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or metalated covalent organic frameworks (COFs) present an emerging class of electrocatalytic materials due to their high surface area, tunable porosity, and structural modularity. Their ability to incorporate diverse metal centers and functional groups makes them promising candidates for selective and efficient nitrate reduction. In order to change and improve catalytic properties, different synthesis strategies can be pursued, such as metal alloying, doping or calcination. To fully understand and optimize these materials, advanced characterization techniques are essential to correlate structural features with catalytic performance, alongside in-situ methods for real-time mechanistic insights. T2 - 10th European Crystallography School CY - Ohrid, North Macedonia DA - 23.06.2025 KW - Electrocatalysis KW - Electrochemistry KW - Framework Materials KW - Ammonia Synthesis KW - Nitrate Reduction PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63846 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -