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SUMMARY:MechE Colloquium: From Double-Layer Physics to kW-Scale Reactors: 
 Predictive Modelling and Field Demonstrations of (Photo)-Electrochemical S
 ystems
DTSTART:20251104T120000
DTEND:20251104T130000
DTSTAMP:20260916T224301Z
UID:fd0945af6c7857dafe6b34f2a45217ac0ce4fb3e919ad80be6bfc61e
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Sophia Haussener\, Laboratory of Renewable Energy Scien
 ce and Engineering\, STI\, EPFL\nAbstract: The transition to a sustainabl
 e energy economy and chemical industry depends on (photo)-electrochemical 
 routes for water splitting and CO₂ reduction\, which can convert renewab
 le electricity and sunlight into energy-dense fuels and value-added chemic
 als. Achieving efficient\, durable\, and scalable implementation of these 
 processes requires a quantitative understanding of the coupled charge\, ma
 ss\, and heat transport phenomena that govern their performance across mul
 tiple length scales. I will present a multiscale modelling framework that
  bridges molecular-level interfacial physics with continuum-scale device o
 peration in electrochemical CO₂ reduction. Starting from atomistic and d
 ouble-layer descriptions [1\, 2]\, extending through mesoscale transport i
 n porous electrodes [2\, 3]\, and ending in volume-averaged continuum mode
 ls [4]\, I will illustrate how each level of description captures essentia
 l physical behavior. This framework enables predictive linking of local el
 ectrochemical microenvironments to macroscopic activity\, selectivity\, an
 d efficiency. Building on this foundation\, I will discuss the integratio
 n of electrochemical systems with semiconductors to realize photo-electroc
 hemical devices capable of large production rates while maintaining high s
 olar-to-fuel efficiencies [5]. I will further discuss how these types of c
 oncentrated photo-electrochemical systems can be scaled to the kilowatt sc
 ale [6]. I will discuss innovation in design\, operation and application t
 hat could make such systems competive. The last part of the talk will adde
 ss lifetime and stability\, a critical aspect of photo-electrochemical sys
 tems.  I will conclude by highlighting ongoing advances in understanding 
 and mitigating degradation phenomena.\n\n[1] F. Lorenzutti\, R. Seemakurth
 i\, E. Johnson\, S. Morandi\, P. Nikacevic\, N. Lopez\, S. Haussener\, Nat
 ure Catalysis\, 2025\, 10.1038/s41929-025-01399-2.\n[2] E. Johnson\, E. Bo
 utin\, S. Liu\, S. Haussener\, EES Catalysis\, 2023\, 10.1039/D3EY00122A.\
 n[3] S. Suter. S. Haussener\, Energy Environmental Science\, 2019\, 10.103
 9/C9EE00656G.\n[4] V. Agarwal\, S. Haussener\, Communications Chemistry\, 
 2024\, 10.1038/s42004-024-01122-5.\n[5] E. Boutin\, M. Patel\, E. Kecsenov
 ity\; S. Suter\; C. Janáky\, S. Haussener\, Advanced Energy Materials\, 2
 022\, 10.1002/aenm.202200585.\n[6] I. Holmes-Gentle\, S. Tembhurne\, S. Su
 ter\, S. Haussener\, Nature Energy\, 2023\, 10.1038/s41560-023-01247-2.\n\
 n\nBiography: Sophia Haussener is an Associate Professor heading the Labo
 ratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering at the Ecole Polytechni
 que Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). She received her PhD (2010) in Mechanic
 al Engineering from ETH Zurich. Between 2011 and 2012\, she was a postdoct
 oral researcher at the Joint Center of Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP) an
 d the Energy Environmental Technology Division of the Lawrence Berkeley Na
 tional Laboratory (LBNL)\, before joining EPFL as Assistant Professor in 2
 013. She is a member of EPFL’s research award commission and of EPFL’s
  Academic Strategic Committee. She has published over 150 articles in peer
 -reviewed journals and conference proceedings\, and 2 books. She has been 
 awarded the ETH medal (2011)\, the Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation award (
 2011)\, the ABB Forschungspreis (2012)\, a Starting Grant of the Swiss Nat
 ional Science Foundation (2014)\, the Prix Zonta (2015)\, the Global Chang
 e Award (2017)\, the Raymond Viskanta Award on Radiative Transfer (2019)\,
  and the Yellott award (2024). In 2024\, she has been named one of Cell Pr
 ess’ 50 Scientist that inspire. She is a co-founder of the startup SoHHy
 tec aiming at commercializing photoelectrochemical hydrogen production.
LOCATION:CM 1 4 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==CM%201%204 https://epfl.zoom.u
 s/j/61360740951
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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