Research interests

Photoelectrochemistry

We work on developing new materials and photoelectrode architectures for photoelectrochemical reactions, including water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction. We develop novel approaches to engineer the interface between semiconductors and electrolytes, in order to optimize the performance of the semicoductors and achieve efficient solar energy devices for the production of solar fuels. We develop fabrication methods to tune those interfaces and boost their photoelectrochemical final performance. We also exploit synergies with the photovoltaics and electrocatalysis fields to develop photoelectrodes with buried junctions, protected with carbon catalytic sheets.  We have capacity for electrode synthesis as well as potentiostats, solar simulators, LEDs, monochromators, gas chromatograph, etc. for a full (photo)electrochemical and gas evolution characterization. Materials that we work on include bismuth vanadate, iron oxide, titania, hematite, perovskites, and organic bulk heterojunctions for either photoanodes or photocathodes.

Key publications:

Daboczi, M.; Eisner, F.; Luke, J.; Yuan, S. W.; Al Lawati, N.; Zhi, M.; Yang, M.; Müller, J. S.; Stewart, K.; Kim, J.-S.; Nelson, J.; Eslava, S. . Nat. Energy 2025, 10(5), 581-591.

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Volume 10 Issue 5

 

Zhu, Z.; Daboczi, M.; Chen, M.; Xuan, Y.; Liu, X.; Eslava, S. . Nat. Commun. 2024, 15, 2791. 

 

 

 

 

 

Yang, M.; Oldham, L.I.; Daboczi, M.; Baghdadi, Y.; Cui, J.; Benetti, D.; Zhang, W.; Durrant, J.R.; Hankin, A.; Eslava, S. . Adv. Energy Mater. 2024, 2401298



 

 

 

 

 

 

Daboczi, M.; Cui, J.; Temerov, F.; Eslava, S. . Adv. Mater., 2023, 2304350

 

 

 

 

 

Cui, J.; Daboczi, M.; Cui, Z.; Gong, M.; Flitcroft, J.; Skelton, J.; Parker, S.C. Eslava, S. . Small 2023, 20, 2306757

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cui, J., Daboczi, M., Regue, M., Chin, Y.-C., Pagano, K., Zhang, J., Isaacs, M.A., Kerherve, G., Mornto, A., West, J., Gimenez, S., Kim, J.-S., Eslava, S., 2022. . Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32, 1-12.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regue, M.; Sibby, S.; Ahmet, I.Y.; Friedrich, D.; Abdi, F.F.; Johnson, A.L.; Eslava, S. . J. Mater. Chem. A 2019, 7, 19161-19172.  

TOC image of Regue et al.

 

 

 

 

Poli, I.; Hintermair, U.; Regue, M.; Sackville, E.; Baker, J.; Watson, T.; Eslava, S.; Cameron, P.J. ; Nat. Comm. 2019, 10, 2097

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Zhang, J.; García-Rodríguez, R.; Cameron, P.J.; Eslava, S. . Energy Environ. Sci. 2018, 11, 2972-2984. 

Graphical abstract: Role of cobalt–iron (oxy)hydroxide (CoFeOx) as oxygen evolution catalyst on hematite photoanodes

Photocatalysis

We study the discovery and development of promising semiconductor photocatalysts that absorb the solar spectrum and effectively avoid recombination of photoinduced charges. We focus on (i) obtaining high surface area materials and composites using synthesis approaches with scale-up capability, (ii) discovering novel multimetallic oxygen, hydrogen evolution reaction and carbon dioxide reduction electrocatalysts to be coated on semiconductor absorbing layers; and (iii) understanding the kinetics of such interfaces to rationalize the improved activities. We also put emphasis on the reactor design, to enable more efficient reactions in gas and liquid phase. 

Key publications:

Baghdadi, Y.; Daboczi, M.; Temerov, F.; Yang, M.; Cui, J.; Eslava, S. . J. Mater. Chem. A 2024, 12, 16383–16395

 

Baghdadi, Y.; Temerov, F.; Cui, J. Daboczi, M.; Rattner, E.; Sena, M.S.; Eslava, S. Chem. Mater. 2023, 35, 20, 8607–8620

 

Kumar S.; Regue, M,; Isaacs, M.A.; Freeman, E.; Eslava S.; , ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2020


TOC image of Kumar et al.

 

 

 

Eslava, S.; Reynal, A.; Rocha, V.G.; Barg, S.; Saiz, E.  J. Mater. Chem. A 2016, 4, 7200-7206.

TOC image of Eslava et al.

 

 

 

 

 

Jo, W.K.; Kumar, S.; Eslava, S.; Tonda, S.  Appl. Cat. B Environ. 2018, 239, 586-598


TOC image of Jo et al.

 

Functional materials

We have a background in materials science and characterization that find applications beyond photoelectrochemistry and photocatalysis, for example in solar cells, thermocatalytic processes, photothermal applications, structural materials for coatings, etc. For example, we develop high surface area materials such as porous metal oxides, graphene derivatives, zeolites, mesoporous silicas, and heterometallic clusters. We focus on bottom-up syntheses using sol-gel, solvothermal, and CVD aproaches and on their extended characterization to relate their properties to their final performance, allowing fundamental understanding needed for their optimization. We cover a wide range of characterization techniques, including HR-TEM, FESEM, XPS, XRD, N2-ads, spectroscopic ellipsometry, UPS, UV-vis spectroscopy, Raman, and electrochemical techniques such as IMPS, IMVS, EIS, LSV, and RDE.

Key publications: 

Liu, S.-C.; Lin, H.-Y.; Hsu, S.-E.; Wu, D.-T.; Sathasivam, S.; Daboczi, M.; Hsieh, H.-J.; Zeng, C.-S.; Hsu, T.-G.; Eslava, S.; Macdonald, T. J.; Lin, C.-T. . Mater. Chem. A 2024, 12 (5), 2856-2866.

 

Rood, S.C.; Pastor鈥怉lgaba, O.; Tosca鈥怭rincep, A.; Pinho, B.; Isaacs, M.; Torrente-Murciano, L.; Eslava, S.  Chemistry: A European Journal 2021, 27, 2165

 

Rood, S.; Ahmet, H.; Gomez-Ramon, A.; Torrente-Murciano, L.; Reina, T. R.; Eslava, S. . Appl. Cat. B. Environ. 2019, 242, 358-368. 

TOC image of Rood et al.

 

 

 

 

Zhang, Y.; Kumar, S.; Marken, F.; Krasny, M.; Roake, E.; Eslava, S.; Dunn, S.; Da Como, E.; Bowen, C.R.  . Nano Energy 2019, 58, 183-191.

TOC of Zhang et al.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olowojoba, G. B.; Kopsidas, S.; Eslava, S.; Gutierrez, E. S.; Kinloch, A. J.; Mattevi, C.; Rocha, V. G.; Taylor, A. C.  J. Mater. Sci. 2017, 52 (12) 7323-734.

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