The two poster presentations were given by MSc students Juhee You and Seok-Ho Seo, based on our recently published work:

1. Efficient visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution with MoS₂/TiO₂ heterojunction photoanodes on porous stainless steel mesh
2. Rationally designed zinc oxide nanosphere and multi-walled carbon nanotube composite with enhanced photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance

One oral presentation was delivered by PhD student Dong Gwon Heo, who presented research on the optical properties of CdSe quantum dots controlled by adjusting the precursor ratio. By tuning the precursor ratio, he simultaneously controlled the surface composition, optical properties, and size of the CdSe quantum dots. A higher Cd ratio on the surface was found to promote the formation of smaller quantum dots. Using this approach, magic-size nanoclusters below 2 nm were successfully synthesized, and white emission was achieved from a single-sized nanocluster system.

As the world works to reduce pollution and move away from fossil fuels, finding better alternatives to generate and store energy is more urgent than ever. Unlike conventional hydrogen, green hydrogen is produced using only renewable sources, such as sunlight, and produces zero emissions during its production.

This three-year project, named HYDRAGON (From Light to Energy: Synergetic Multifunctional Materials Driving Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Generation), is funded by the European M-ERA.NET 2024 program, which promotes global collaboration in science and technology. It focuses on photoelectrochemical (PEC) technologies that use sunlight to split water – drawn from natural sources like rivers or the sea – directly into hydrogen.

To make this possible, the researchers will develop advanced materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), lead-free perovskites, and metal oxides and carbides, all based on abundant and inexpensive metals. These materials will be combined with flexible carbon-based supports to create next-generation devices that will be more efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly.

Since its launch, the HYDRAGON project has already delivered encouraging results. During its first phase, researchers have developed five promising semiconductor materials designed to enhance hydrogen production directly from sunlight and water, addressing key challenges related to efficiency and stability in green hydrogen technologies.

The strength of the collaboration is also reflected in its scientific output, with three peer-reviewed articles published to date:

• A composite photoanode composed of ZnO nanospheres electrostatically integrated with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) achieved a photocurrent density of 417 µA cm^-2 at 1.23 V_RHE (29.7-fold higher than pristine ZnO), a hydrogen evolution yield of 3.44 µmol cm^-2 (12.3-fold increase), and a 21-fold enhancement in pollutant degradation kinetics (Journal of Power Sources 2026, 664, 238963).
• Bismuth-based perovskitoids were introduced as interlayers in perovskite optoelectronic devices to modulate energy level alignment. Their incorporation, in combination with C₆₀ as the electron transport layer, resulted in improved device performance. These findings highlight the potential of Bi-based perovskitoids to induce band bending and optimize interfacial energetics (ACS Omega 2025, 10, 52067–52075).
• A visible-light-responsive MoS₂/TiO₂ heterojunction photoanode on porous stainless-steel mesh (SSM) achieved a photocurrent density of 102.21 μA cm^-2 and a 53.7% increase in ABPE compared to TiO₂/SSM, with hydrogen evolution improved by 2.7-fold (International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 2025, 196, 152561).

These achievements highlight the value of international cooperation between European and Asian partners and mark an important step toward scalable, sustainable hydrogen technologies that can support the global transition to clean energy.

For updates on the project, follow us:

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• IMDEA Energy – Project page

“Science is not only my job, it is my passion and a way to contribute to a cleaner future,” says Dr. Pavla Eliášová in the interview for Svět ženy.

In the feature, she talks about her research on new functional materials that use sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, a process known as water splitting. This green hydrogen can then serve as a clean fuel that produces only water when used, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the transition to more sustainable energy systems. The interview also briefly presents the HYDRAGON (“From Light to Energy: Synergetic Multifunctional Materials Driving Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Generation”) project, where international partners work together to design low-cost, efficient photoelectrochemical devices for hydrogen production from water, including non-traditional sources.

You can learn more about the magazine at https://www.svetzeny.cz/ and follow our ongoing research on hydrogen technologies and sustainable energy on o ur website and social media channels.