The project was structured into two pivotal parts, with a primary emphasis on the synthesis of nanostructured electrocatalysts from titanium-iridium alloys (WP1) and a second crucial aspect involving the preparation and modification of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) (WP2).
In the first part, the synthesis of electrocatalysts from titanium-iridium alloys utilized innovative methodologies, including the development of sputtering for Ti-Ir alloy preparation and the anodization of sputtered films. The anodization process led to the creation of materials with intriguing structures, including iridium single atoms and clusters, showcasing significant advancements in the field.
The second part of the project, focused on HEAs preparation and modification. This phase involved the preparation of HEAs composed of diverse elements, followed by anodization and other treatments to convert them into electrically conductive electrocatalysts. The research required extensive time and resources due to its inherent complexity but still yielded results with immense scientific and technological quality.
Characterization of both Ti-Ir alloys and HEAs (WP3) involved advanced techniques, contributing to an in-depth understanding of the electrocatalysts' properties, activity, and stability. The researcher actively engaged in training, career development, and dissemination activities (WP4), participated at one conference, published three papers and another one will be published shortly, and contributed to outreach efforts.
These combined efforts not only significantly advanced the field of electrocatalysis but also broadened the scope of potential applications, especially in the case of HEAs. The multifaceted exploration of high-entropy materials has the potential to revolutionize clean energy technologies by offering alternatives to expensive and scarce materials traditionally used in electrocatalysis.
