Workshop
| Workshop | Registration Fee |
| Innovation for Sustainability 14 May 2026, 09:00 – 17:00 Istinye University (Vadi H Campus) | 0 USD |
Workshop Title:
Innovation for Sustainability
Date and place:
14 May 2026 / 09:00-17:00 / Istinye University (Vadi H Campus)
Workshop Abstract
This workshop focuses on recent advances in materials design, characterization, and first-principles modeling for solar-driven water splitting and energy conversion. Topics span electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, defect engineering, low-dimensional materials, and photoelectrochemical systems. By bringing together experimental and theoretical perspectives, the workshop aims to provide mechanistic insights and predictive strategies for next-generation materials enabling efficient and sustainable hydrogen production.
Workshop scopes include:
- Catalytic materials for hydrogen production and conversion
- Photocatalytic and electrochemical materials
- Membrane materials for hydrogen separation and electrochemical devices
- Materials interfaces and transport phenomena
- Defect engineering and materials tuning
- Low-dimensional and nanostructured materials
- Advanced materials characterization
- Computational and data-driven materials design
- Materials stability, durability, and scalability
Workshop Speakers:
Prof. Juliano Alves Bonaccin
University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil
Talk Title:
Enhancement of the Catalytic Activity of Prussian Blue through Cyanide Vacancies
Talk Description:
Water oxidation is the rate-limiting step in overall water splitting. In this talk, Prussian Blue analogs are explored as efficient water oxidation catalysts under mild conditions (pH 7). Particular emphasis is placed on the creation of cyanide vacancies, their formation mechanisms, and their impact on catalytic activity and material properties.
Short Bio:
Juliano A. Bonaccin is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at UNICAMP. His research focuses on water splitting, hydrogen production, electrocatalysis, nanomaterials, and electrochemical sensors. He has published over 100 papers, holds 7 patents, and serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society.
Dr. Pichaya Pattanasattayavong
Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC), Thailand
Talk Title:
Role of Iron in Solar-Driven Water-Splitting Silicon Photoanodes
Talk Description:
This presentation examines the critical role of Fe in Ni-modified Si-based MIS photoanodes for oxygen evolution. The impact of Fe on interfacial energetics, band bending, photovoltage, and catalyst stability is discussed, providing new insights into high-performance PEC water-splitting systems.
Short Bio:
Pichaya Pattanasattayavong is Assistant Professor at VISTEC. His research focuses on opto-electronic materials and photoelectrochemical energy conversion. He is the recipient of multiple international awards and leads several competitive research projects.
Dr. Masoud Shahrokhi
University of Ostrava, Czech Republic
Talk Title:
First-Principles Design of Photocatalysts: From 3D and 2D Materials to Z-Scheme Heterojunctions
Talk Description:
This talk presents a first-principles framework for evaluating key descriptors governing photocatalytic water splitting in bulk and low-dimensional materials. Electronic structure, optical response, band alignment, excitonic effects, and HER/OER energetics are discussed across isolated systems, conventional heterostructures, and Z-scheme architectures.
Short Bio:
Masoud Shahrokhi is a computational materials scientist specializing in DFT and many-body methods (GW/BSE). He has published ~75 papers in leading journals and has been listed among the world’s top 2% scientists for four consecutive years (2021–2025).
Prof. Maurizia Palummo
University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
Talk Title:
Atomistic Insights into the Opto-Electronic Properties of Novel 2D and Layered Materials
Talk Description:
Using parameter-free first-principles simulations, this talk explores excited-state and opto-electronic properties of emerging 2D and layered materials. Topics include excitonic effects, band-gap renormalization, light–matter interaction, and tuning strategies via doping and chemical substitution.
Short Bio:
Maurizia Palummo is Full Professor of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. She is an expert in DFT, GW, and BSE methods, a Yambo developer, and author of over 150 scientific publications.
Dr. M. Hussein N. Assadi
RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Japan
Talk Title:
Theory-Guided Design of Functional Materials for Energy Conversion
Talk Description:
This talk highlights the role of first-principles modeling in understanding and engineering functional materials for energy applications. Emphasis is placed on defect physics, dopant energetics, and structure–property relationships relevant to water splitting and energy conversion technologies.
Short Bio:
M. Hussein N. Assadi is a theoretical physicist and computational materials scientist at RIKEN. His work bridges fundamental theory and experimentally relevant materials, contributing to the rational design of next-generation energy materials.
Prof. Selmiye Alkan Gürsel
1Sabanci University, Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences, Turkiye
2Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Appliaction Center, Turkiye
Talk Title:
Bridging Materials Science and Hydrogen Technologies: Membranes and Catalysts for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Talk Description:
This presentation highlights membrane and catalyst innovations linking materials science to hydrogen technologies and global efforts to overcome fuel cell and electrolyzer limitations. Cost-effective radiation-grafted and electrospun membranes are presented alongside catalyst strategies targeting PGM reduction, including graphene-supported Pt for ORR and transition-metal-doped IrO₂ for acidic OER.
Short Bio:
Selmiye Alkan Gürsel is Professor of Materials Science and Nanoengineering at Sabancı University. Her research focuses on hydrogen technologies, fuel cells and electrolyzers, advanced polymer membranes, electrocatalysis, graphene-based materials, and lithium-ion batteries. She leads and contributes to major national and international research initiatives advancing green hydrogen and electrochemical energy technologies.
