Unveiling Nanoscale Catalytic Hotspots: Enhancing 2D-transition metal dichalcogenides for Sustainable Energy Conversion

• Applicant: Dr. Laud Anim Adofo
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Analytical Chemistry ; Technical Chemistry
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 570652477

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) are gaining recognition as efficient, cost-effective alternatives to expensive electrocatalysts for energy conversion, gas sensing, and photoelectrochemical applications. Their high surface area and the presence of various defects, such as vacancies, cracks, and grain boundaries, create electrochemically active regions that significantly enhance catalytic performance. However, understanding the specific behavior of these regions remains challenging. Current catalytic measurement techniques primarily report averaged performance, failing to correlate catalytic activity with precise active sites within the 2D-TMDs. Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) has emerged as a powerful tool in catalysis research, offering high sensitivity to surface reactivity and the ability to identify nanoscale "hotspots" on catalyst surfaces. This project aims to employ SECCM to establish a direct correlation between localized electrochemical activity, specifically for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), and the composition and surface structure of 2D catalysts. Additionally, SECCM will be used to investigate the effects of transition metal dopants such as niobium, vanadium, and rhenium, as well as alloys and heterostructures, on the electrocatalytic performance of model 2D-TMDs. To complement SECCM measurements, the project will integrate co-localized microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to analyze defects, topography, electronic properties, and crystal orientation. These detailed analyses are crucial for elucidating the structure–activity relationships in these catalysts. Through these approaches, I aim to better predict, control, optimize, and ultimately scale up the use of 2D catalysts for clean energy conversion, contributing to the goals of the European Green Deal adopted in 2020.

• DFG Programme: WBP Position