Dr. Elitsa Petkucheva | Electrochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Elitsa Petkucheva | Electrochemistry | Best Researcher Award

BAS - Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems, Bulgaria.

Dr. Elitsa Petkucheva is a dedicated hydrogen enthusiast committed to advancing clean energy solutions. With a robust background in engineering and a profound understanding of hydrogen fuel cells, she actively collaborates with industry leaders, government officials, and academic researchers to promote hydrogen-based applications across various sectors, including power generation, transportation, and industrial processes.

Profile

Scopus
Google Scholar​

🎓 Education

Dr. Elitsa Petkucheva holds an Executive MBA in Energy Management from the Swiss School of Business and Management Geneva, Switzerland, which she completed between March 2022 and May 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Electrochemistry from the Acad. E. Budevski Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems (IEES) in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she conducted research from September 2013 to May 2018. Prior to that, she obtained an M.Sc. in Hydrogen Technologies from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy (UCTM) in Sofia, Bulgaria, graduating in June 2013. Dr. Petkucheva also holds a B.Sc. in Biotechnologies from UCTM, which she completed between September 2007 and September 2011.​

💼 Experience

Dr. Elitsa Petkucheva is currently serving as a Chief Assistant in Research and Development at the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems (IEES) within the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, a position she has held since July 2019. Prior to this role, she worked as a Research Assistant at IEES-BAS from September 2017 to July 2019. Additionally, she gained international research experience as a Research Associate at the Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis (LSCI) at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, where she was involved in advanced research from January 2016 to January 2017.​

🔬 Research Interests

Hydrogen technologies

Electrocatalysis

Electrochemistry

Biotechnologies

Development of membrane electrode assemblies for PEM hydrogen systems

🏆 Awards

"Eurika" Foundation Honoree Diploma in the category "Young Inventor" (2021)

"Prof. Hristo Balarev" Award for prominent young scientist in the field of Inorganic Chemistry, Bulgarian Union of Chemists (November 2, 2020)

First Place in the category "Science and/or Technological Development" of the program "The Most Prominent Young People in Bulgaria 2020," part of the international movement Junior Chamber International (JCI) (May 6, 2020)

Acad. M. Drinov Prize 2020 for the best scientist (under 35 years) in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, in the category "Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency"

Zeno Karl Schindler Foundation Doctoral Exchange Grant (2016-2017)

📚 Selected Publications

An unconventional iron-nickel catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction
F. Song, M. M. Busch, B. Lassalle-Kaiser, C. S. Hsu, E. Petkucheva, ...
ACS Central Science, 5(3), 558-568 (2019)Citations: 363

Ebonex supported iridium as anode catalyst for PEM water electrolysis
E. Slavcheva, G. Borisov, E. Lefterova, E. Petkucheva, I. Boshnakova
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 40(35), 11356-11361 (2015)Citations: 42

Gold-supported magnetron sputtered Ir thin films as OER catalysts for cost-efficient water electrolysis
E. Petkucheva, G. Borisov, E. Lefterova, J. Heiss, U. Schnakenberg, ...
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 43(35), 16905-16912 (2018)Citations: 29

Highly KOH doped para-polybenzimidazole anion exchange membrane and its performance in Pt/TinO2n−1 catalyzed water electrolysis cell
H. Penchev, G. Borisov, E. Petkucheva, F. Ublekov, V. Sinigersky, I. Radev, ...
Materials Letters, 221, 128-130 (2018)Citations: 13

Co-electrodeposition of iron and sulfur in aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes
V. A. Majidzade, S. P. Mammadova, E. S. Petkucheva, E. P. Slavcheva, ...
Bulgarian Chemical Communications, 52, 73-78

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ruiming Fang | Photocatalysis | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ruiming Fang | Photocatalysis | Best Researcher Award

Anhui University of Technology, China.

Fang Ruiming is an Associate Professor at the School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University of Technology. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. jointly trained by Chongqing University and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, his work centers on CO2 valorization and photocatalytic processes for hydrogen production. With over 400 citations across 20 publications in prestigious journals, including Journal of Materials Chemistry A and Energy and Fuel, he has garnered recognition through awards like the National Scholarship for Graduate Students in High-level University Construction and the Outstanding Graduate Student Honor from Chongqing University.

Profile

Scopus

Google Scholar

Education 🎓

Dr. Ruiming Fang is currently pursuing his Ph.D. as a joint candidate between Chongqing University, China, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, specializing in energy and environmental engineering. This collaborative training program enables him to merge cutting-edge research approaches from two prestigious institutions. Prior to his Ph.D., he earned both his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Energy and Environmental Engineering, laying a strong foundation in sustainable energy technologies, environmental processes, and advanced material applications. His academic journey reflects a commitment to tackling global energy and environmental challenges through innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Experience 💼

Dr. Ruiming Fang serves as an Associate Professor at the School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, where he contributes to advancing sustainable energy solutions. As a Guest Editor for the Special Issue "Impacts of Combustion and Thermo-Chemistry", he actively collaborates with the global research community to address pressing issues in energy transformation and carbon reduction technologies.

With a focus on CO2 valorization, photocatalysis, and hydrogen production mechanisms, Dr. Fang's research explores innovative pathways to sustainable energy generation. His work on catalytic systems and reaction mechanisms has provided groundbreaking insights into renewable energy processes, enhancing both academic and industrial applications.

Research Interests 🔬

CO2 Valorization

Innovative solutions to convert CO2 into valuable products

Photocatalysis

Mechanisms and material development for hydrogen production

Sustainable Energy Systems

Advanced catalytic systems such as borane-ammonia complexes

Awards 🏆

National Scholarship for Graduate Students in High-level University Construction
Outstanding Graduate Student Honor, Chongqing University

Selected Publications 📚

"Constructing and strengthening the 'Electron Bridge' of BMO/CPP to enhance photothermal synergistic catalytic CO2 reduction"
Wu, X., Guo, M., Wang, Z., ... He, J., Yang, Z.
Separation and Purification Technology, 2024, 345, 127330.
Cited by: 2 articles.

"Double defects cooperatively mediated BiOClBr-OV for efficient round-the-clock photocatalytic CO2 reduction"
Fang, R., Yang, Z., Wang, Z., ... Ran, J., Godin, R.
Fuel, 2024, 367, 131514.
Cited by: 5 articles.

"g-C3N4@CPP/BiOClBr-OV biomimetic fractal heterojunction synergistically enhance carrier dynamics for boosted CO2 photoreduction activity"
Fang, R., Yang, Z., Guo, M., ... Ran, J., Xue, C.
Applied Surface Science, 2024, 656, 159712.
Cited by: 3 articles.

"Dioxygen atom co-doping g-C3N4 for boosted photoreduction activity of CO2 and mechanistic investigation"
Jiang, Z., Guo, M., Yang, Z., ... Wang, Z., Ran, J.
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2024, 12(19), pp. 11591–11601.
Cited by: 3 articles.

"Synergistic mediation of dual donor levels in CNS/BOCB-OV heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction"
Fang, R., Yang, Z., Sun, J., ... Wang, Z., Xue, C.
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2024, 12(6), pp. 3398–3410.
Cited by: 7 articles.