Manohara Hanalur from the Materials-Environmental Laboratory at CEET recently returned from a research internship under the SAN4Fuel project. At the FAU Erlangen, a project partner, he focused on the development and optimization of titanium nanotube (TNT) materials, with particular emphasis on photocatalytic hydrogen production.
“The key benefit for me was the hands-on experience with advanced synthesis and characterization techniques and gaining a deeper understanding of how processing parameters affect the morphology of TNT and their catalytic activity. I also received training in electrochemical anodization and photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen generation,” said the researcher, who at MEL focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic application of TiO₂ nanotubes, including the deposition of platinum single atoms to improve the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting.
The experience gained at the Germany partner institution will, according to him, significantly support his ongoing research project as well as his future work on the development of advanced materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications.
“I also acquired new knowledge in the field of electrochemical and photocatalytic materials, which I intend to apply in research on environmental remediation and energy conversion,” he concluded.
The SAN4Fuel project is dedicated a revolutionary scientific process—single-atom engineering. Adopting this method, scientists from Palacký University’s CATRIN, the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies of VSB-TUO, the University of Trieste and the Friedrich Alexander University (FAU) in Erlangen in Germany are developing new materials to generate “green” energy or reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the air. The aim is to find solutions for ending the dependence on fossil fuels.