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.

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๐ŸŽ“ 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.โ€‹

๐Ÿ’ผ 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 ร‰cole Polytechnique Fรฉdรฉrale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, where she was involved in advanced research from January 2016 to January 2017.โ€‹

๐Ÿ”ฌ Research Interests

Hydrogen technologiesโ€‹

Electrocatalysisโ€‹

Electrochemistryโ€‹

Biotechnologiesโ€‹

Development of membrane electrode assemblies for PEM hydrogen systemsโ€‹

๐Ÿ† Awards

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

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

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)โ€‹

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"โ€‹

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

๐Ÿ“š 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) โ€“ 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) โ€“ 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) โ€“ Citations: 29

Highly KOH doped para-polybenzimidazole anion exchange membrane and its performance in Pt/TinO2nโˆ’1 catalyzed water electrolysis cell
H. Penchev, G. Borisov, E. Petkucheva, F. Ublekov, V. Sinigersky, I. Radev, ...
Materials Letters, 221, 128-130 (2018) โ€“ 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

Dr. Kyoung-Tae Park | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kyoung-Tae Park | Chemical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Korea Institute of industrial Technology, South Korea.

Dr. Kyoung-Tae Park is a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, specializing in advanced materials engineering. With a Ph.D. in Green Energy Technology and extensive experience in metallurgy, his research focuses on innovative techniques for metal recycling, thermoelectric materials, and high-performance alloys. Over his career, he has contributed significantly to the fields of materials science, energy technology, and industrial development.

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๐Ÿ“š Education

Dr. Kyoung-Tae Park pursued his academic journey at Chungnam National University (CNU), where he laid a strong foundation in metal and materials engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Metal and Materials Engineering from March 2000 to February 2007. Continuing his specialization, he completed a Master of Science in Metal Materials Engineering between March 2008 and February 2010. Subsequently, he achieved his Doctor of Philosophy in Green Energy Technology at the Graduate School of Chungnam National University, from March 2010 to February 2013, focusing on sustainable energy solutions and advanced material applications.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸŒพ Professional Experience

Dr. Kyoung-Tae Park began his career as a Senior Researcher at the Fuel Cell Technology Acquisition Team of POSCO Energy Technology Research Center, where he contributed from February 2013 to November 2013. In February 2013, he joined the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology as a Senior Researcher, where he continues to work, focusing on advanced materials and energy technologies. Additionally, Dr. Park broadened his research expertise through a Visiting Researcher position at the IFW Solid State Physics Institute in Dresden, Germany, from July to September 2015, where he collaborated on cutting-edge solid-state physics projects.

๐Ÿ”ฌ Research Interests

Advanced metal recycling techniques

Development of thermoelectric materials

High-performance alloys and composites

Nanostructured materials for energy applications

๐ŸŒŸ Awards

Encouragement Award, Poongsan Idea Contest (2010)

Commendation Award, Contribution to Industrial Development of Rare Metals, Incheon (2015)

Best Poster Award, Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute, Fall Meeting (2016)

๐Ÿ“‘ Publications Top Notes

Titanium deoxidation mechanism probed using an electron beam melting method, Electrochemistry Communications, 2025, 170, 107856. (Kim, H.C.; Kwon, N.; Shin, J.-H.; ... Oh, S.J.; Park, K.-T.) Link

Electrochemical behavior of deoxidation titanium scrap process by induced overpotential molten salt electrolyte, Electrochemistry Communications, 2024, 166, 107780. (Kwon, N.; Kim, H.; Ko, U.J.; ... Shin, J.H.; Park, K.-T.) Link

Synthesis and Characteristics of Mesoporous Copper Cobalt Oxides Using the Inverse Micelle Method Fabricated for Supercapacitors, ACS Omega, 2024, 9(5), pp. 5338โ€“5344. (Heo, S.G.; Park, K.-T.; Oh, S.J.; Seo, S.-J.) Link

Pyrometallurgical eco-recycling for Zn and MnO recovery from spent alkaline and Znโ€“C batteries, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 2024, Article in Press, 200801. (Bae, S.U.; Park, J.H.; Park, K.-T.; Shin, J.H.) Link

Extraction of rare earth elements from neodymium (NdFeB) magnet scrap using magnesium halides, Journal of Rare Earths, 2024, Article in Press. (Heo, S.G.; Yang, J.Y.; Oh, S.J.; ... Lee, M.H.; Park, K.-T.) Link