Speakers

Speakers

Currently we are in correspondence with our potential invited/plenary speakers. We will soon add new speakers and the titles to this page . Normally invited/ plenary presentations are by invitation only. A certain fraction, however, comes from the regular submissions made to the symposium . If you would like to submit your work as invited/plenary presentation please submit your work as early as you can. if you think your presentation is of interest for the subject area as a whole ( e.g. Batteries and Supercapacitors) please select “Oral Invited” while submitting your abstract. Similarly If your presentation is of interest for mesc-is audience as a whole please select ” Oral Plenary“. We will let you know which form of presentation your submission is accepted to...

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Dr. Burak Aktekin
Justus Liebig University Giessen

A novel electrochemical approach for quantitative characterization of side reactions on lithium metal anodes: CTTA

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) have become a critical component of countless devices we use in our daily life, and they are predicted to play a pivotal role in electrification of transport (and grid energy storage) in the near future. In order to enable a widespread energy transition, the development of advanced battery technologies is crucial. Ideally, electrode materials should have high specific charge capacities, enable high cell voltages and allow fast charge and discharge kinetics. In this sense, the most promising anode active material would be lithium metal since it has a specific charge capacity of 3860 mAh g⁻¹ and operates at the lowest electrode potential possible (i.e., 0 V vs. Li⁺/Li, or  –3.04 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode). All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are quite promising to enable the use of lithium metal anodes due to their projected safety characteristics (e.g., non-flammable components, mechanical rigidity, very high transference numbers). Unfortunately, most solid electrolytes have a narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) and thus are subject to parasitic side reactions with lithium metal resulting in accelerated cell failure. It is essential to understand the chemical and quantitative nature of such reactions (and their kinetics) to design better performing battery systems. In this talk, it will be presented how the use of electrochemical methods (such as the novel CTTA method) and advanced analytical characterization methods (e.g., XPS, ToF-SIMS, FIB-SEM, operando HAXPES, etc.) can be used to obtain fundamental understanding of degradation reactions occurring at the interface between lithium metal and solid electrolyte in all-solid state batteries (with a particular focus on argyrodite-type sulfide-based solid electrolytes).

Burak Aktekin received his BSc (2010) and MSc (2013) in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department in Middle East Technical University. He then joined Uppsala University for his doctoral studies where he worked on the high voltage spinel type positive electrodes for LiBs. Having obtained his PhD in late 2019 and following a brief postdoctoral period at Uppsala University, Dr. Aktekin joined J. Janek’s research group at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen. His current research activities focus on understanding interfacial side reactions in all-solid-state batteries using electrochemical methods as well as a range of analytical tools available in house or in synchrotron facilities.

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Professor Aligül Büyükaksoy
Gebze Technical University

Nanoscale Electrodes for Solid Oxide Cells: Fabrication, Microstructure and Stability

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are high-temperature (600-800 °C) electrochemical devices that can both convert electricity and water to hydrogen and oxygen hydrogen and vice versa – a trait that can address the intermittency problem of renewables. The combination of these two technologies can address the carbon emission issues we are facing today. SOCs are associated with challenges, including insufficient electrochemical performance and degradation of microstructures and materials chemistries upon long-term exposure to operating conditions. For example, SOC electrodes fabricated by conventional powder-based methods are short of electrochemically active electrocatalyst-ionic conductor-gas triple phase boundaries (TPBs), their electrocatalysts undergo agglomeration and diminish TPBs, and Sr segregates to the surfaces of (La, Sr)(Co/Fe/Mn)O 3 -type perovskite oxygen electrocatalysts to finally deactivate them. Changing the electrode fabrication approach from a powder sintering-based route into a liquid precursor-based one generates several opportunities to address these challenges. First, it enables the fabrication of nanoscale composites from a single precursor, to form electrocatalyst and ionic conductor phases via self-assembly, which yields extremely long TPBs. Second, the layer-by layer nature of this approach enables the application of multiple interlayers, which can be tailored to mechanically constrain electrocatalyst agglomeration, reverse the concentration gradients to avoid cation segregation or generate desired interfaces for synergistic other synergistic effects, thereby addressing many challenges SOCs are facing. In this talk, microstructure – electrochemical performance relationships in nanoscalecomposite SOC electrodes will be elaborated. Impact of the introduction of multiplenanolayers on the structural and chemical stability of electrodes is discussed.

Aligul Buyukaksoy Aligül Büyükaksoy obtained his BS and MSc degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Gebze Technical University (then, Gebze Institute of Technology) in 2007 and 2009, respectively. He completed his PhD work in 2013, at Missouri University of Science and Technology in the same field. Through Eyes High and Calgary Innovates – Technology Futures fellowships, he then worked under the supervision of Prof. Viola Birss at the University of Calgary for two years. In 2016, he joined the Materials Science and Engineering department, at Gebze Technical University as an assistant professor and got promoted to associate professor position in 2021.  His research interests include solid oxide cells, defect chemistry, solid state electrochemistry, electroceramics and ceramic fabrication techniques.

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Professor Rezan Demir-Cakan
Gebze Technical University

From Sulfur to Selenium: Bridging Concepts in Lithium Battery Design

To satisfy the growing energy demands of modern applications, research efforts have traditionally centered around sulfur-based battery chemistries, owing to sulfur’s high theoretical energy density and cost-effectiveness. Despite these advantages, the commercialization of Li–S batteries has been limited by persistent challenges such as drastic volumetric expansion during cycling, poor electrical and ionic conductivities of sulfur and its discharge products, and the sluggish redox kinetics of intermediate polysulfides. These limitations often result in poor cycling stability, irreversible loss of active material, and the formation of passivating layers that hinder performance. In recent years, lithium–selenium batteries have gained attention as a promising alternative among chalcogen-based systems. Selenium offers a higher volumetric capacity and much better intrinsic conductivity compared to sulfur. Nevertheless, Li–Se batteries still face critical hurdles, particularly large volume fluctuations during charge and discharge, as well as uncontrolled accumulation of Li 2 Se on the electrode surface. Building on the knowledge gained from Li–S battery research, our work focuses on addressing these challenges by studying the reversible conversion reactions and tackling capacity loss caused by imperfect re-oxidation of Li₂Se. In this presentation, we will first review the progress made with sulfur-based batteries, then explore strategies to enhance the performance of Li–Se systems. Special attention will be given to the use of electrocatalysts that improve Li 2 Se conversion and increase active material utilization.

Rezan Demir-Cakan received her Ph.D. degree in 2009 from the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. Between 2009 and 2012, she conducted postdoctoral research in the group of Prof. Jean-Marie Tarascon, where she focused on rechargeable lithium batteries, particularly lithium–sulfur systems. She is currently a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Gebze Technical University. Her research activities center on the design and synthesis of nanostructured energy materials for advanced battery systems, with particular emphasis on sodium-ion, lithium–sulfur, and aqueous electrolyte zinc-ion batteries. Rezan Demir-Cakan has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the French Embassy Research Fellowship (2018, 2023), the Turkish Academy of Sciences Outstanding Young Scientist Award (TÜBA-GEBİP, 2018), the L’Oréal–UNESCO “For Women in Science” Award (2016), the Science Academy’s Young Scientist Award (BAGEP, 2015), the IMLB Young Researcher Award (2012), and the Japan Carbon Award (2008). Since 2014, she has served as an expert evaluator for energy-related calls within EU-funded programs (H2020, Horizon Europe), and she currently coordinates the EU-funded project TwinBat.

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Prof. Selmiye Alkan Gürsel
Sabancı University

Addressing Materials Challenges for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzer Technologies: Membrane and Catalyst Innovations 

.The transition to sustainable hydrogen economies faces fundamental materials limitations across the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer and fuel cell value chain. Despite enabling carbon-free power generation through fuel cells, green hydrogen production via electrolysis and its conversion in fuel cells remain constrained by performance limitations, efficiency losses, and durability challenges. To address membrane limitations, we develop ion-conducting membranes via radiation-induced graft polymerization and electrospinning. These approaches enable membranes with tunable ion exchange capacity, water uptake and ionic conductivity. We achieved the development of new generation asymmetric membranes and bipolar membranes as well. Moreover, for PEM electrolyzers, we embedded recombination catalysts within thin membranes mitigate hydrogen crossover, eliminating auxiliary layers while maintaining efficiency. Our complementary catalyst innovations target PGM reduction and activity enhancement to reduce cost and enhance performance. For ORR in fuel cells, Pt nanoparticles (2–3 nm) on functionalized graphene supports (nanoplatelets, rGO, hybrids) reduce Pt consumption while enhancing activity. These catalysts are synthesized by impregnation-reduction, microwave-assisted deposition, photocatalytic deposition, and electrophoretic deposition. Moreover, we develop transition metal-doped iridium oxide catalysts (Mn, Ni, Ti) for acidic OER in PEM electrolyzers.  Our work engineers Mn-, Ni-, and Co doped IrO₂ systems via sol-gel synthesis, where dopant integration induces significant electronic modulation that optimizes reaction energetics. These advances enable high-performance, durable electrodes with reduced precious metal reliance, and advancing scalable hydrogen technologies toward commercial viability. In this presentation, we contextualize these material innovations within global efforts to overcome fuel cell and electrolyzer limitations. We highlight key projects including Graphene Flagship, HYSouthMarmara Hydrogen Shore (Turkiye’s first hydrogen valley initiative) and other projects

Prof Dr. Selmiye Alkan Gürsel received her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of Chemistry at Middle East Technical University (METU). During her doctoral studies, she conducted research on electrochromic polymers at the University of Florida (USA). Subsequently, from 2003 to 2007, she pursued postdoctoral research on fuel cells at the General Energy Department of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland. Since 2008, Dr. Gürsel has served as a faculty member at Sabanci University and she also held the position of Vice Dean for Research at Sabanci University from 2020 to 2024. Prof. Dr. Gürsel leads numerous national and international projects about hydrogen technologies, fuel cells, electrolysis,polymer membranes, graphene and lithium-ion batteries. Her achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the L’Oréal Turkey Young Women in Science Award supported by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (2010), the METU Prof. Dr. Mustafa N. Parlar Education and Research Foundation Research Incentive Award (2012), the Science Academy Young Scientists Award Program (BAGEP) Scholarship (2013), and the Women Energizing Turkey – Academy Award presented by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (2018).

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Professor Sarp Kaya
Koç University

Unraveling the Impact of Charge Carrier Trapping on Photoelectrode Performance

Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising approach for converting solar energy into chemical energy stored in molecular hydrogen and oxygen. However, the efficiency of this process strongly depends on the properties of the photoelectrode materials. Metal oxide semiconductors are commonly employed as photoelectrodes, but their poor charge transport properties and limited surface catalytic activity can significantly constrain overall performance. In particular, charged defect sites, both in the bulk and on the surface of oxide semiconductors, can trap charge carriers and slow down interfacial kinetics. In this talk, I will present the time-evolution of interfacial charge trapping and transfer processes in BiVO4 photoanodes and CuBi2O4 photocathodes.

Sarp Kaya received his PhD in Physical Chemistry in 2007 after completing his studies on ultrathin metal oxide layers at Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Plank Society and Humboldt University. During his post-doctoral studies at Stanford University (2007-2010) and following research activities as a scientist at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (2010-2014) and Joint Center of Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP) (2011-2014) he heavily utilized synchrotron radiation for investigations on gas-solid and liquid-solid interfaces. He has joined the Department of Chemistry, Koç University in 2013. He has also been co-director of Koç University Tüpraş Energy Center (KUTEM) since 2019.

Professor Dag Noreus
Stockolm University

An α/ϒ- Ni(OH)/NiOOH-electrode will make safer aqueous batteries to supersede Li-ion capacities. 

Dag Noréus is a professor in the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry at Stockholm University. He earned his PhD degree in reactor physics in 1982 at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, and completed his postdoc at Daimler-Benz, Metal Hydride Laboratory, Stuttgart, Germany, in 1983. Noréus became a researcher in 1984 and a professor in 2000 in the Department of Structural Chemistry, Stockholm University. His research interests include x-ray diffraction, elastic and inelastic neutron scattering, and electrochemistry focusing on the understanding of metal-hydrogen interaction in metal hydrides and electrodes. http://www.h2fc-fair.com/hm14/exhibitors/nilar.html

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Professor Saim Ozkar
Middle East Technical University

Enhancing the utilization efficacy of noble metal(0) nanocatalysts in hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of ammonia borane

Saim Özkar has completed his undergraduate study in chemical engineering at the Technical University of Istanbul in 1972, and then worked for two years in industry. He received his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at the Technical University of Munich, Germany in 1976 before joining the Department of Chemistry, Middle East Technical University as an Assistant Professor in 1979, where he is now a Full Professor. He spent one year at the Max Planck Institute in Mülheim as Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation Scholar in 1986, 2 years at University of Toronto as visiting professor in 1988-1990, and 9 months at Colorado State University as Fulbright Fellow in 2000. His current research interests involve the transition metal nanoparticles; synthesis, characterisation, and catalytic applications in hydrogen generation, hydrogenation, oxidation, and coupling reactions.Saim Özkar was awarded the TÜBİTAK 1996 Science Prize and has been a member of Turkish Academy of Sciences since 1996.

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Professor Olim Ruzimuradov
Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent

“Prelithiation–Deposition” Strategy to Synthesize Carbon-Supported Pt-Based Alloys for Oxygen Reductions

Olim Ruzimuradov is a professor of chemistry at at the Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent. He graduated from Chemistry Department of Samarkand State University in 1996. He received his PhD degree in Polymer Chemistry (2006) . Olim Ruzimuradov was a post-doc at University of Surrey, 2007-2008. He then was a Research Fellow Ehime University, 2009 and Kyoto University,2010-2011 Japan . He collaborated with a number of intitutions, namely the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, Aix-Marseille University, France , Technical University of Crete (2015), and KITECH, South Korea . His research interests focus on in such areas as one-dimensional solid ion conductors; the electrochemical behaviors of nanostructured materials, production of nanoscale adsorption/ photocatalytic materials and their use in the chemical industry, Conductive ITO nanowires and the development of functional polymer-metal oxide nanocomposites .

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Professor Ramazan Yıldırm
Boğaziçi University

Machine Learning for Sustainable Energy Materials and Technologies

As a major enabler for most of human activities from food and fresh water production to transportation, telecommunication and healthcare, the energy is a critical ingredient for a sustainable future. While UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) directly aims to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, most of 169 targets stated under the all of 17 SDGs are also involved with energy production or utilization. Machine learning (ML), as another enabler technology of recent years, has been employed in most of the activities in SDGs as well as the implementation projects and programs to attain SDGs through data collection, monitoring and analysis. ML also frequently used in sustainable energy production and storage technologies including the search and design of new materials. In this presentation, the potential roles of ML for the sustainable energy future, will be discussed. First, the basic principles and more recent developments will be summarized Then the use of ML in energy production and storage will be discussed in detailed examples together with a perspective on the challenges and opportunities for the future.

Ramazan Yıldırım is a professor of Chemical Engineering at Boğaziçi University. He received his B.Sc from Ege University and his MS is from Boğaziçi University. Then, he moved to University of California, Los Angeles where he received his Ph.D. After his Ph.D., he had worked as quality and management consultant for about five years before he joined Boğaziçi University Chemical Engineering Department in 2001 as a full time professor. His research focuses on catalysis and photocatalysis, machine learning analysis of energy conversion technologies (e.g. catalytic hydrogen production and purification, water splitting, photocatalytic CO2 reduction, biofuel production and solar cells) and energy storage systems.

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Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Zabara
Cambdridge University

EIS and NMR Characterization of Storage & Degradation Mechanisms in Sodium Batteries

Sodium batteries have emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to ease the demand of lithium batteries for sustainable energy storage. However, their commercial viability remains hindered by limitations in cycle life. Advancing the cycle life of Na batteries necessitates a detailed understanding of the underlying sodium storage behavior and associated degradation mechanisms. Thus, coupling electrochemical analysis with high-resolution chemical characterization is key to revealing the underlying processes. In our work, we employ a combined approach using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate sodium storage behavior and degradation pathways in Na batteries. EIS facilitates the examination of interfacial phenomena and charge transfer kinetics, while NMR provides detailed insights into the local structural environment of sodium ions. We systematically study various electrolyte compositions, electrode materials, and states of charge to assess their influence on storage mechanisms and degradation pathways. EIS measurements performed under varying conditions—such as temperature, cell geometry, and state of charge—enable precise analysis of charge transfer processes and interfacial phenomena. Local structural changes during electrochemical cycling are tracked using a combination of in situ and ex situ NMR spectroscopy. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the sodium storage and degradation processes, laying the groundwork for the development of more durable and efficient Na battery systems.

Mohammed Ahmed Zabara is a Research Associate in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. He earned his BSc and MSc degrees from the Middle East Technical University and holds a PhD in electrochemistry from Bilkent University, where he specialized in applying Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy to study energy storage systems. Following his doctorate, he conducted research at Sabanci University, investigating the electrochemistry of metal oxides for energy storage applications. His current work focuses on elucidating electrochemical mechanisms in emerging battery chemistries by integrating electrochemical impedance with in situ characterization techniques.

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