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Modelling water splitting reactions at the electrochemical interface under operating conditions

Objective

This project will investigate aqueous semiconductor interfaces for water splitting applications, using advanced computational chemistry methods. Green hydrogen, produced from water electrolysis using renewable energy, is expected to play a key role in the energy transition and cover approximately 10% of the EU’s energy needs by 2050. One promising production route is using photoelectrochemical cells (PECs), where photogenerated charge carriers in semiconductor electrodes catalyse the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. However, the commercialization of PECs is hindered by low efficiencies, material instability, and cost.

Optimizing the performance of PECs requires a thorough understanding of the solid/electrolyte interface under operating conditions. These systems are challenging to probe experimentally, and most computational studies, while extremely useful, often ignore the experimentally relevant effect of the applied electrode potential. Moreover, the few approaches that allow the incorporation of bias in the simulations, come with several shortcomings, such as relying on implicit solvents or requiring the use of prohibitively large systems for the accurate modelling of semiconductors.

With bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) as our model system, in this project we will leverage recent advances in computational chemistry to (i) develop and apply machine learning interatomic potentials to simulate BiVO₄ in contact with explicit water and selected electrolytes, (ii) examine the impact of electrode potential on interfacial structure and electronic properties, and (iii) explore water oxidation pathways using enhanced sampling techniques. This project will advance the atomic-scale modelling of electrochemical interfaces in realistic conditions through an integrated simulation framework, and will provide valuable insights into interfacial structures, electronic properties, and reaction mechanisms, that will guide the design of efficient, stable photoelectrodes.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF

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Coordinator

ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 292 118,88
Address
BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland

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Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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