“Platinum based 2D metal dichalcogenides (PtS2, PtSe2, PtTe2) decorated with N-doped graphene quantum dots for photo-electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)”
Country of Study
South Africa
Institution
University of the Witwatersrand
Expected Year of Completion
2024
Thematic Area
Mathematics and Physical Sciences
Education
Lineo is pursuing her PhD in Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has an MSc in Chemistry from the same institution and will be finishing her studies in 2024.
Research Summary
The climate change and energy crisis facing the world calls for urgent cleaner processes, as well as more sustainable energy sources. Lineo’s research focuses on harnessing hydrogen energy from water using platinum-based catalysts. Pure platinum is one of the best performing catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from water. However, platinum is a precious metal and over prolonged periods, it dissolves in the electrolytes used in HER. Lineo is therefore looking at reducing the quantity of platinum used as well as trying to increase the overall stability of the catalysts The idea is to maintain or improve the catalytic activity of the catalysts while decreasing the overall percentage composition of platinum in the catalyst. Additionally, the amount of energy required for hydrogen production from water can be further minimised, herein her research proposes the hybridization of platinum dichalcogenides.
Publications:
1. Evaluating the effect of the substrate on the electrocatalytic performance of Cu2ZnSnS4 and Cu2ZnSnSe4 counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells
2. Probing the stoichiometry dependent catalytic activity of nickel selenide counter electrodes in the redox reaction of iodide/triiodide electrolyte in dye sensitized solar cells
