Through the EDUC-WIDE Access Call to Research Infrastructures, materials scientist Judith Vargas from University I Jaume I University has been granted access to state-of-the-art research facilities at Masaryk University in Brno, in the Czech Republic, boosting her teams ongoing research project on providing environmentally friendly fuel.
- Further reading: The First EDUC-WIDE Access Call to Research Infrastructures
Judith Vargas (uji.es) is a fourth-year PhD student under the Santiago Grisolia Programme. She contributes to the HyCaM research group (uji.es), and specialises in the development of new catalytic materials for renewable fuel processes, aiming to address climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
With a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Simón Bolívar University in Venezuela, she was driven by a profound curiosity to understand the world better and find solutions to pressing environmental issues. Her journey began with studying the photo-degradation of phenolic compounds derived from pharmaceutical products, utilising natural solar radiation to decompose pollutants.
"This approach leverages a daily, almost infinite resource—solar energy."
Taking it to the next level in Brno
Now, her PhD research centres on designing catalytic materials for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes, which could serve as renewable fuels and replace polluting fossil fuels.
Her current research topic complements her ongoing PhD project. She is working with materials primarily composed of metallic nanoparticles supported onto MXene (titanium carbides with an accordion-like laminar shape).
"Microscopy techniques revealed that these nanoparticles are supported on the surface of MXene, but further investigation is needed to determine if they are also present within the MXene layers."
She proposed the project at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic, where specific equipment can make precise molecular-level cuts to observe if nanoparticles exist between the layers.
Advanced electron microscopy techniques
Her research aims to improve the design of existing catalysts and enhance catalytic capacities for hydrogen storage systems, potentially providing clean and environmentally friendly fuel for personal vehicles in the future.
"It is expected that more information will be obtained about the composition of the materials synthesized in the laboratory through characterization with advanced electron microscopy techniques. In this way, a better understanding of the catalytic material will be obtained and its properties at a molecular level can be improved."
The chemist remains highly motivated by the current project and the potential improvements it could bring.
"The design of materials based on MXenes represents a great challenge due to the novelty of the material. Although there are few studies on catalytic systems, it presents great potential due to its versatility and physicochemical properties of titanium carbides."
This motivates her to continue researching MXenes as catalytic materials for various applications, aiming to contribute significantly to the field of renewable energy.