Welcome to my profile!
As an Assistant Professor, I lead a research group dedicated to pushing the boundaries of photo- and electrochemical conversion science. Our mission is to pioneer innovations in sustainable energy, with a focus on advancing water splitting, CO2, and N2 conversion technologies. We excel in using time-resolved operando and in-situ infrared spectroscopy to uncover catalytic reaction mechanisms in unprecedented detail, and our expertise in nanofabrication allows us to engineer nanoscale materials that precisely control mass and charge transport at the shortest possible length scales to minimize efficiency degrading side-reactions.
Research Journey
My research journey has been shaped by invaluable experiences across leading institutions. During my postdoctoral research I was fortunate to work research in the group of Prof. Heinz Frei at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). There, I explored artificial photosynthesis, focusing on cutting-edge operando and in-situ spectroscopic techniques to unravel fundamental mechanisms of electrochemical and photochemical reactions.
PBefore that, I earned my PhD from The Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nuremberg under the mentorship of Prof. Dirk Guldi. My doctoral research focused on combining molecular and quantum dot light absorbers with catalysts on graphene, enabling in-depth investigations into charge transfer processes. This experience fueled my passion for sustainable research.
Throughout my academic career, I have embraced interdisciplinary collaboration. One highlight was working within the joint program of the Energy Biosciences Institute at UC Berkeley and Shell, which allowed me to explore innovative energy technologies.
Teaching and Mentoring Philosophy
I am deeply committed to mentoring and teaching the next generation of scientists. My approach emphasizes creating a supportive, collaborative, and intellectually stimulating environment. I believe that education should empower students to develop critical thinking skills, fostering curiosity and creativity. In my teaching, I aim to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, which I integrate into my courses like Electrochemical Fundamentals & Techniques and Molecular Structure & Spectroscopy and Electrocatalysis: Materials & Spectroscopy. I encourage students to actively engage with complex scientific concepts through real-world applications. These courses are designed to help students connect fundamental principles to real-world scientific challenges, such as sustainable energy and electrochemical technologies.
I place a strong emphasis on mentorship, using a hands-on approach during the early stages of student research projects. Through weekly meetings and continuous feedback, I help students develop their independence and confidence, guiding them toward becoming self-sufficient researchers. Over time, I reduce supervision as students gain expertise, fostering an environment where they can take ownership of their work while still receiving tailored guidance.
I am also a strong advocate for interdisciplinary learning, believing that some of the most exciting discoveries happen at the intersections of fields. I encourage students to collaborate across disciplines, thinking beyond the boundaries of their field to solve complex problems. This interdisciplinary approach is critical in today’s scientific landscape, especially in areas like electrochemical conversion and sustainable energy solutions.
Lastly, I view teaching as a mutual learning experience. I continuously seek feedback to refine my methods and keep the learning experience engaging and effective. By fostering a supportive and stimulating environment, I hope to inspire the next generation of scientists to pursue scientific inquiry with passion, creativity, and a deep sense of responsibility toward addressing global challenges.
Research Focus: Nature-Inspired Innovation
I am fascinated by how Nature captures sunlight and transforms it into energy-rich biomass, surpassing humanity’s energy needs many times over. Nature achieves this remarkable feat using nanoscale building blocks, finely tuned to integrate incompatible catalytic environments while controlling mass and charge transport.
My research group is investigating how to replicate these natural systems. We focus on the hierarchical integration of inorganic oxide-based catalysts, light absorbers, and membranes to develop robust nano-scale photoreactors, akin to artificial leaves. Our work is guided by four key principles:
- Ultrathin Membrane Integration: A base layer of less than 5 nm that supports catalysts and light absorbers.
- Selective Permeability: Membranes that allow proton transport but block oxygen.
- Catalyst Separation: Oxidation and reduction catalysts positioned on opposite sides of the membrane.
- Electron Transport Chain: A Z-scheme that enables electronic communication across the membrane.
Our ultimate goal is to develop ultrathin insulating oxides capable of proton permeation, oxygen blocking, and electronic communication between catalysts and light absorbers. We complement this research with advanced spectroscopic techniques to study interfaces and catalytic mechanisms in real-time.
Expertise
Material Science
- Graphene
- Electron Transfer
- Quantum Dot
- Silicon Dioxide
- Carbon Nanotubes
- Oxidation Reaction
- Surface (Surface Science)
Chemistry
- Electron Transport
Organisations
Electro- and Photocatalytic Interfaces Collective (EPIC)
1. Overview
Our research group is dedicated to advancing sustainable chemical conversions by harnessing renewable electricity (electrosynthesis) and sunlight (artificial photosynthesis). We focus on the chemical transformation of abundant feedstocks —such as H2O, CO2, and N2— at the catalyst-electrolyte interface, aiming to unlock higher efficiencies in these critical processes.
At the core of our work is the use of cutting-edge, time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, which allows us to pinpoint crucial reaction intermediates and trace the kinetics of these transformations in real time. By deepening our understanding of these mechanisms, we seek to drive breakthroughs in catalytic efficiency and product selectivity.
A key component of our research involves the development of ultrathin catalyst coatings, designed to prevent undesirable side-reactions and provide precise control over reaction kinetics at the interface. This level of control enhances catalytic performance and enables more selective chemical conversions, bringing us closer to scalable, efficient processes.
Building on this, we take an integrated approach by hierarchically combining catalysts, light absorbers, and membranes. This design allows us to finely regulate mass, ion, and charge transport at the nanometer scale, yielding synergistic effects that improve catalytic activity and product selectivity. Ultimately, our work pushes the boundaries of energy conversion processes, moving us closer to viable solutions for a sustainable future.
2. projects
Dalia C. Leon Chaparro (PhD candidate) - April 2021 (on-going)
Ultrathin membranes for photo- and electrocatalytic applications
funded through NWO Electrochemical Conversion & Materials (ECCM) Tenure Track grant
D. C. Leon Chaparro, D. M. Nguyen, C. Baeumer, G. Mul, G. Katsoukis, Elucidating proton and Oxygen conductivity across ultrathin amorphous Al2O3, in preparation.
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Adam Vass (postdoc) - August 2022- August 2023
Gas phase Electrocatalysis for methane valorization using Electrochemical FT-IRRAS
funded through NWO ECCM KICstart and NWO ECCM Tenure Track grant
Adam Vass, Guido Mul, Georgios Katsoukis, Marco Altomare Challenges in the selective electrochemical oxidation of methane: Too early to surrender https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2024.101558
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Max Berkers (PhD candidate) - February 2021 (on-going)
Robust and durable electrodes for the hydrogen-bromine redox flow battery
funded through RELEASE consortium and part of a collaboration with Arnhem-based company Elestor
W.M. Berkers, G. Mul, Ultrathin silica protective electrode coatings for the hydrogen-bromine redox-flow battery, in preparation.
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Nathália Tavares Costa (PhD candidate) - February 2021 (on-going)
Catalytically Active Coatings for the Removal of Indoor Pollutants
funded through Advanced Research Center - Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC-CBBC)
Nathália Tavares Costa, Annemarie Huijser, Georgios Katsoukis, Jitte Flapper, Guido Mul, Catalytically Active Coatings for the Removal of Indoor Pollutants, submitted.
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Nathália Tavares Costa (PhD candidate) - February 2021 (on-going)
Catalytically Active Coatings for the Removal of Indoor Pollutants
funded through Advanced Research Center - Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC-CBBC)
Nathália Tavares Costa, Annemarie Huijser, Georgios Katsoukis, Jitte Flapper, Guido Mul, Catalytically Active Coatings for the Removal of Indoor Pollutants, submitted.
3. List of supervised master theses
Lukas Cino, Serge Lemay, Guido Mul, Dalia Leon Chaparro, Georgios Katsoukis, Li-mediated N2 electrochemical reduction to ammonia elucidated via rapid-scan FTIR spectroscopy, in preparation (January 2024).
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Willem Looman, Arian Nijmeijer, Leon Lefferts, Aayan Banerjee, Georgios Katsoukis, Performance analysis of a new nano-cell design for high-throughput low-temperature electrolysis, June 2023.
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Hilbert Heida, Mathieu Odijk, Guido Mul, Georgios Katsoukis, Rapid scan IR reflection-absorption spectroelectrochemistry to uncover the mechanism of electrochemical CO2 reduction on Cu, February 2023.
4. List of supervised bachelor theses
Jorik Bloemenkamp, Leon Lefferts, Aayan Banerjee, Georgios Katsoukis, Modelling High-Throughput Low-Temperature Electrolysis (HTLE) in a new cell design, July 2022.
Publications
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Research profiles
Together with dr. Marco Altomare, dr. Chris Baeumer, and dr. Georgios Katsoukis,
we would like to inform you of a new elective course: “Electrocatalysis: Materials and Spectroscopy,” starting in Q2B.
Our world’s energy supply and the current chemical industry is based on fossil fuels which have a large carbon footprint and negatively impact our climate and health. In the last decades, however, renewable electricity won through photovoltaic panels and wind turbines has become so cheap that chemical reactions can be driven using electrochemistry. Electrochemical processes will need to run as efficient as possible to become sustainable, which is why electrocatalysis is essential. Electrocatalysis plays a major role for example in electrochemical water splitting to make H2, and in the synthesis of chemicals and fuels utilizing atmospheric CO2 or N2 as feedstock.
Therefore, the success of the energy transition depends on the transformation of the global energy sector by the integration of sustainable electrocatalytic processes. Current and emerging electrochemical conversion processes, however, cannot be scaled-up sufficiently enough, because the materials used today are neither abundant, nor stable and efficient. But how do we find better materials?
This course provides fundamental knowledge on electrocatalysis, including materials, reaction pathways and spectroscopic characterization techniques that help understand and identify reaction mechanisms and key electrocatalyst design principles. We prepare students for performing research on electrocatalysis and electrochemical reactions, both in industry and academia.
Interested? You can find the content of the lectures in the Osiris Catalogue.
For any specific course-related questions you can contact dr. G. Katsoukis, the contact person for this course.
Affiliated study programs
Courses academic year 2024/2025
Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
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