Departments

The Department for Materials Chemistry specializes in the synthesis, characterization, and implementation of advanced materials for sustainable, low- or zero-carbon energy solutions. Our research is structured across three laboratories:

• Laboratory for Modern Battery Systems: We aim to push the boundaries of electrochemical energy storage by engineering novel materials and deepening the fundamental understanding of battery cell properties. Our work addresses the critical need for efficient secondary batteries within renewable energy ecosystems, focusing on the seamless storage and conversion of electricity to support a sustainable power grid.
• Laboratory for Electrocatalysis: Our research utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to tackle complex challenges in energy conversion science. We emphasize the long-term stability and performance of electrocatalysts, ensuring they meet the rigorous demands of industrial application. Central to this mission is our commitment to a high-caliber, collaborative research environment that fosters the development of future technical experts.
• Laboratory for Coating Development: We enhance the durability and efficiency of renewable energy components. Our expertise focuses on spectrally selective colored coatings for low-temperature solar absorbers and high-performance protective coatings tailored for the extreme environments of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants.

1. Drvarič Talian, S., Kapun, G., Moškon, J. et al. Operando impedance spectroscopy with combined dynamic measurements and overvoltage analysis in lithium metal batteries. Nat Commun 16, 2030 (2025).  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57256-0
2. Narayan, R., et al, Tuning the surface stabilization of LiNiO2 cathode via mixed conductive carbon nanotube/lithium polyacrylate coatings – Electrochemical performance and operando gas evolution analysis, Energy Storage Materials Volume 79, June 2025, 104316 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2025.104316
3. Rems, E., et al Pivotal Role of Surface Terminations in MXene Thermodynamic Stability, Chem. Mater. 2024, 36, 20, 10295–10306, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c02274
4. Gabrielčič, M., et al., Probing sodium structures and dynamics in hard carbon for Na-ion batteries using 23Na operando solid-state NMR spectroscopy, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, 13, 1042-1056, DOI: 10.1039/D4TA07135B
5. Paljk, T., et al, Integrated sensor printed on the separator enabling the detection of dissolved manganese ions in battery cell, Energy Storage Materials, Volume 55, January 2023, Pages 55-63, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ensm.2022.11.039
6. Matjaž Finšgar, Katja Andrina Varda, Dzevad K. Kozlica, Matej Huš, Milena Martins, Dušan Strmčnik, Combining ToF-SIMS and Multivariate Analysis to Resolve Active Sites on Ni-Based HER Catalysts, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, 65, e19929, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202519929
7. Blaž Tomc, Marjan Bele, Mohammed Azeezulla Nazrulla, Primož Šket, Matjaž Finšgar, Angelja Kjara Surca, Ana Rebeka Kamšek, Martin Šala, Jan Šiler Hudoklin, Matej Huš, Blaž Likozar and Nejc Hodnik, Deactivation of copper electrocatalysts during CO2 reduction occurs via dissolution and selective redeposition mechanism, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, 13, 4119, https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/ta/d4ta06466f
8. Ana Rebeka Kamšek, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Marjan Bele, Anja Logar, Goran Dražić, Nejc Hodnik, Structure–Stability Relationships in Pt-Alloy Nanoparticles Using Identical-Location Four-Dimensional Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy and Unsupervised Machine Learning, ACS Nano 2025, 19, 2334−2344,  https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsnano.4c12528
9. Milutin Smiljanić, Stefan Panić, Marjan Bele, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Luka Pavko, Lea Gašparič, Anton Kokalj, Miran Gaberšček, Nejc Hodnik, Improving the HER Activity and Stability of Pt Nanoparticles by Titanium Oxynitride Support, ACS Catal. 2022, 12, 13021−13033, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acscatal.2c03214
10. Asad Mehmood, Mengjun Gong, Frédéric Jaouen, Aaron Roy, Andrea Zitolo, Anastassiya Khan, Moulay-Tahar Sougrati, Mathias Primbs, Alex Martinez Bonastre, Dash Fongalland, Goran Drazic, Peter Strasser & Anthony Kucernak, High loading of single atomic iron sites in Fe–NC oxygen reduction catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Nature Catalysis volume 5, pages 311–323 (2022), https://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-022-00772-9