Symposium SSE
This symposium highlights the growing importance of integrating state-of-the-art surface engineering with sustainability. The sessions on batteries, hydrogen technologies, catalysis, and energy conversion contribute to the development of sustainable energy systems and directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
SSE1. Coatings for Batteries and Hydrogen Applications
The transition towards sustainable energy systems relies on advanced electrochemical technologies for energy storage and hydrogen production. Surface engineering and advanced coatings play a crucial role in improving the performance, durability, efficiency, and safety of these systems by tailoring interfaces and functional surfaces. This session focuses on coatings, thin films, and surface functionalization for batteries and hydrogen technologies, including electrode coatings, catalyst layers, membrane and separator functionalization, current collectors, diffusion barriers, protective coatings, and interface engineering. Contributions addressing coating synthesis, surface modification, degradation mechanisms, corrosion protection, operando characterization, and computational approaches for electrochemical energy devices are particularly encouraged.
SSE1 Invited Speakers:
- Lukas Gröner, Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoffmechanik IWM, Germany
- Vincenc Nemanič, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
- Krishnakant Tiwari, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taiwan, “Development of Functional High-Entropy Alloy Thin Films for Sustainable Energy Storage Applications”
SSE2: Coatings and Surfaces for Renewable Energy Technology
Renewable energy production, industrial decarbonization, and pollution reduction are gaining attention as essential to address contemporary challenges for a sustainable future. This session seeks to establish a collaborative environment for researchers to present and share recent advancements in energy harvesting technologies and their applications for fostering a more sustainable tomorrow. It is specifically devoted to discussing materials and devices developed for various forms of energy conversion, including thermoelectric, (photo)electrochemical, and mechanical energy conversion, and further to self-generating sensors or wearable technology. It includes the direct conversion from natural energy sources to electricity or the conversion from natural energy sources to fuels later used in other technology (e-/solar fuel generation). It encompasses both theoretical and experimental research pertaining to the design and processing of these systems.
We welcome contributions for the following topics: Thermoelectric power generation, Solar-driven chemical energy conversion, photo(electro)catalysis, or solar fuel generation Triboelectric/Piezoelectric nanogenerators, Self-generating sensors and Self-generating wearable technology.
SSE2 Invited Speakers:
- Adriana Creatore, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands, “How Next-Generation Energy Storage Technologies Challenge Atomic Layer Deposition”
- André Luis de Jesus Pereira, Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), Brazil, “Engineering WOx Thin Films for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production: The Role of Nanoarchitecture and Defect Control”
- Venkatasubramanian Rama, Johns Hopkins University, USA, “Nano-engineered Thin-film Thermoelectric Materials and Devices – Applications from Practical Refrigeration to Electronics Cooling to Prosthetics”
- Mohammed Jassim Uddin, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, USA, “The Chemical Design of Functional Surface Using Advanced Oxides for Green Energy Generation”