Tag: Scientific Career
In large-scale European research initiatives, collaboration is often measured in work packages, milestones, and deliverables. But the true engine of innovation is the exchange of people and ideas. The NICKEFFECT project thrives on this philosophy, proving that cross-border mobility does not just advance materials science—it shapes the next generation of scientific leaders.
The problem of unprecedented volumes of data and the need to reduce devices’ energy consumption
The NICKEFFECT project has successfully validated a transformative approach to High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HT-PEM) fuel cells, a critical technology for decarbonizing heavy-duty transport, aviation, and shipping. By moving away from costly, "bulk" platinum catalysts, the project has developed an innovative Ni-W/Pt core-shell nanoparticle architecture. This breakthrough replaces the expensive interior of catalyst particles with a low-cost nickel-based alloy, placing platinum only where it is needed: on the active surface. This "atom-efficient" design substantially reduces total platinum content without sacrificing the high-temperature durability or CO tolerance required for industrial use. By proving this technology at scale—moving from lab coupons to 46 cm² large-area electrodes—NICKEFFECT has paved a technically sound and cost-efficient path toward European strategic autonomy, ensuring a sustainable hydrogen economy that is no longer dependent on localized, expensive noble raw materials.
The NICKEFFECT project continues its mission to revolutionise electrocatalysis by replacing scarce and costly platinum with more abundant nickel-based alloys. In the latest instalment of the Young Scientific Talk series, […]
The Power Hunger of the Digital Age The AI revolution is here, but it comes with a hidden cost: a massive surge in energy consumption. As our world becomes increasingly […]
The NICKEFFECT project has successfully bridged the gap between laboratory research and industrial application with the publication of CWA 18302:2026, a landmark CEN Workshop Agreement developed in collaboration with CEN-CENELEC. This document establishes the first harmonized European protocol for the electrochemical characterization of non-noble, porous metal-based electrodes for hydrogen generation in acidic media. By standardizing testing cells, activity parameters, and data reporting, this success story—led by CIDETEC, the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), and project coordinator Aliona Nicolenco—provides the scientific community with a critical tool to accelerate the development of cost-effective, PGM-free water electrolysis technologies, ensuring that early-stage material innovations can be reliably benchmarked and scaled for a net-zero future.