Anita Panahi

Alumni

The development of sustainable energy technologies relies on efficient and durable electrocatalysts for electrochemical energy conversion. Among the key processes involved, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a major kinetic bottleneck in water electrolysis due to its sluggish kinetics. Consequently, enhancing the catalytic activity and long-term stability of OER electrocatalysts remains a central challenge in the field of electrochemistry. In parallel, the electrochemical oxidation of organic molecules such as glycerol has attracted significant interest as a strategy for the valorization of biomass-derived feedstocks while simultaneously producing value-added chemicals.

This master’s thesis focuses on the synthesis and electrochemical characterization of lanthanum nickelate-based catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction and glycerol oxidation in alkaline media. Catalyst activity and stability are investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry (CP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) setup. The objective of this work is to establish structure-activity-stability relationships for perovskite-based electrocatalysts and to provide deeper insight into the factors governing their electrochemical performance in alkaline environments.