New materials for applications in water electrolysis systems

Study of electrochemical water decomposition processes using nanostructured materials, including:

• Electrochemical characterization of the tested electrocatalysts (voltammetric, chronoamperometric techniques, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy)
•  Study of the kinetics of the occurring processes
• Study of the stability of the tested electrodes
• New electroactive materials: metal sulfides and selenides

New materials for applications in photoelectrochemistry and photocatalysis

We primarily study the properties of nanostructured materials in the photoelectrochemical water splitting process. In our laboratories, we are syntehesizing various types of nanostructured materials, including TiO₂, SnO₂, and WO₃. We also undertake research on the modification of these materials using various strategies (doping, creating heterojunctions, hybrid photoelectrodes) to improve their performance in solar radiation-induced processes

We conduct studies on materials:

• optical properties
• photoelectrochemical properties using simulated solar radiation and monochromatic radiation, enabling the determination of photoconversion efficiency
• electrochemical properties using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
• stability in the studied processes.

Additionally, we conduct research related to:

• Photocatalytic decomposition of model aquatic pollutants
• Photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical processes for converting complex chemical compounds (e.g., lignin) into biofuels and other chemicals

New nanostructured materials for applications in electrochemistry

Our research involves designing and synthesizing nanostructured electrode materials with precisely controlled morphology and structure. In our laboratories, we use electrochemical synthesis methods to create metal oxide layers with unique physicochemical properties.

We investigate:

• electrochemical methods for producing nanostructured oxide layers
• the influence of structure and morphology on the electrochemical properties of the obtained materials
• designing electrodes with predefined characteristics tailored to specific applications

In the Electrochemistry Group we develop:

• nanoporous Al₂O₃ layers with varied morphology and tunable pore diameters
• double-sided open oxide membranes with straight or branched channels
• porous alumina layers obtained from alloys containing different amounts of Al
• nanoporous TiO₂ layers with various internal structures (straight channels, branched channels, modulated diameters)
• double-sided open anodic TiO2 membranes
• nanostructured TiO₂ layers on 3D substrates (meshes, perforated foils, wires)
• Oxide layers on titanium alloys
• Nanostructured oxides of other metals (Sn, Zn, W, Zr, Cu, Fe)

Electrochemical synthesis of nanostructured materials

Design and synthesis of new nanostructured metallic, polymeric and composite electrodes in the form of

• ordered arrays of nanowires
• thin films
• ordered arrays of nanocones

Examples of nanomaterials developed in the Electrochemistry Group at Jagiellonian University:
Ag, Au, Sn, PPy, PEDOT, Cu, PPy-Ni, Au-Ag, CoSe, MoSe₂.

Nanostructured electrochemical sensors

We design and synthesize new nanostructured metal, polymer and composite electrodes.

We conduct comprehensive characterization of the obtained sensors using volammetric, amperometric, potentiometric and impedance techniques.

Examples of sensors developed in the Electrochemistry Group:

• Hydrogen peroxide sensors based on Ag and PPy-Ag nanowire arrays, nanoporous Ag layers, and Ag particles
• Adrenaline sensors based on Au nanowires and nanoporous thin layers
• Glucose sensor based on the Ni(OH)₂/Al(OH)₄⁻ electrode
• pH sensors based on polypyrrole nanowire arrays .

Novel materials for energy storage applications

We synthesize nanostructured materials such as Sn/SnO_x, polypyrrole (PPy), and PPy-Ni(OH)₂ composites featuring unique three-dimensional morphologies - including ordered arrays of nanowires as well as micro- and nanoporous architectures.

These materials have potential applications in energy storage systems, such as supercapacitors and lithium- or sodium-ion batteries.

We perform comprehensive physicochemical characterization of the synthesized materials, along with post-mortem analyses to evaluate their stability and degradation mechanisms.

Corrosion of matels and alloys

Electrochemical characterization of metals and alloys (e.g. Ni₃Al, InSb, TiNbZr, TiMo), with a focus on assessment of corrosion resistance of Ti-based implant materials.