Laboratory of Electroanalysis and Chemical Electrocatalysis
Team leader: prof. dr hab. Paweł Kulesza
Team leader’s e-mail address: pkulesza@chem.uw.edu.pl
Brief description of the research topic:
– New measurement and diagnostic concepts in chemical electroanalysis (I.A. Rutkowska, P.J. Kulesza)
– Design and physicochemical characterization of advanced materials with specific organization and functionality for electrochemical energy conversion in particular for reduction of carbon dioxide, oxygen and oxidation of small organic molecules (I.A. Rutkowska, P.J. Kulesza)
– Mechanisms and kinetics of charge transport in materials exhibiting redox properties and electron accumulation and transfer capabilities for flow batteries (I.A. Rutkowska, P.J. Kulesza)
– Low-temperature electrochemical conversion of nitrogen and oxygenated nitrogen compounds to ammonia (P.J. Kulesza, I.A. Rutkowska, I. Smirnov)
– Design, physicochemical characterization and evaluation of the suitability of low platinum content catalysts for oxygen reduction in fuel cells (P.J. Kulesza, A. Kostuch, I.A. Rutkowska, S. Zolądek)
– Electrochemical water splitting using cobalt-containing hybrid nanocomposites – oxygen release and hydrogen generation (P.J. Kulesza, I.A, Rutkowska)
– Study of capacitive and Faradaic processes at the electrode/electrolyte interface in electrochemical capacitors; new aqueous-organic, organic (deep eutectic solvents) and hydrogel electrolytes, including those with redox properties, determination of mechanisms of charge transport, degradation (aging) and self-discharge of capacitors using modern electroanalytical and spectroscopic techniques, including in-situ and in-operando conditions (M. Skunik-Nuckowska, P.J. Kulesza)
– Design, fabrication and physicochemical characterization of nanostructured materials of potential importance for low-temperature fuel cells (oxygen reduction) and optical and electrochemical sensors. Study of mechanisms of electrocatalytic processes and kinetics of charge transport in hybrid layered systems containing cross-linked noble metal nanoparticles, transition metal oxides and carbon nanostructures (S. Zoldzek, P. J. Kulesza)
– Experimental and model studies of dynamic instabilities – oscillations and multistabilities and dissipative spatial structures in chemical and electrochemical systems, with particular emphasis on processes involving hydrogen peroxide, carried out in single and coupled reactors (M. Orlik)
– Critical analysis of solubility data of rare earth sulfates and complexation constants. (C. Guminski)
– Development of concepts for the formation, activation and stabilization of noble metal nanoparticles, including bimetallic nanoparticles and non-platinum systems for oxygen reduction and oxidation of small organic molecules; design, preparation and characterization of new photoelectrocatalytic materials based on transition metal cyanide complexes; search for new complex oxide layers (e.g., silicate layers) with potential application in corrosion protection (K. Miecznikowski)
– Research on the mechanisms of electrochemical sensors (both in potentiometric and current modes) and optical (fluorimetric) sensors; synthesis of nanoparticles of conducting polymers, study of their properties and use in electrochemical sensors; research on bipolar electrochemical systems, especially their use as sensors operating in electrochemical-optical mode. (K. Maksymiuk)
– Development of methodologies for fabrication of organized nanostructured systems for the construction of electrochemical biosensors. Design and characterization of layers with immobilized biocatalysts and study of direct and mediator mechanism of electron transfer between biocatalyst and electrode. Use of multi-enzymatic systems for the design of flow biosensors (B. Kowalewska).
– Heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis and the study of phenomena occurring in electrochemical energy sources (fuel cells), as well as the design of new materials (including nanomaterials) with catalytic properties to better understand the factors affecting catalytic activity. Particular attention is paid to the role of surface electron properties in the course of catalytic reactions (A. Lewera).
– Oxidation of nucleic bases of plasmid DNA compared to chromosomal DNA to study interactions with DNA intercalators; design of a glucose biosensor whose signal does not depend on the presence of oxygen in the measurement system. (H. Elzhanowska).
– Application of electrochemical methods and theoretical development of the impedance spectroscopy method in the study of kinetics and thermodynamics of electrocatalytic processes and hydrogen sorption. Research and synthesis of materials for applications in electrocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis (R. Jurczakowski).