Paula Sebastián Pascual

Electrocatalytic reactions occur on the surface of catalyst electrodes in contact with an electrolyte solution. This region is called the electrified interface. My research focuses on investigating well-defined electrified interfaces to understand how the interactions between the catalyst surface and the electrolyte affect different electrocatalytic reactions. More specifically, my research investigates atomically well-ordered surfaces, like single crystalline electrodes, to address how surface orientation and geometry influence performance. We use this fundamental knowledge to rationally prepare, via electrodeposition methods, nanostructures with tuneable composition and morphology for e.g., water splitting, the oxidation of organic molecules and the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide.

I am originally from Valencia, Spain. I am a chemist with background in Electrochemistry. I carried out my PhD (2018)  at theUniversity of Alicante and at the University of Barcelona, under the supervision ofProf. Juan Miguel Feliu and Prof. Elvira Gómez. During my Ph.D., I investigated the electrochemical behavior of  model single-facet catalysts of Pt, Au or Ir in contact with aqeuous electrolytes and ionic liquids. After my PhD, I moved to theUniversity of Copenhagen in 2018,to do my postdoc research withProf. María Escudero-Escribano. My postdoc research has focused on investigating electrochemical methods to characterize the structure of either well-orientated and nanostructured Cu electrocatalysts for the CO and CO2 reduction. I also searched for more sustainable methods to prepare bimetallic nanostructures for fuel cell and electrolysis reactions, and using green solvents  such as deep eutectic solvents.

In 2022 I became Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, and in 2023 I became Villum Young Investigor at the same University. In 2024 I moved to Sweden to start a position as Assistant Professor and WISE fellow at KTH.