Senior Research Fellow, National Institute of Chemistry
National Institute of Chemistry
Slovenia
Research/Professional Focus: Surface science approach: (i) Development of model electrochemical interphases (metal, metal oxide, carbon etc.) (ii) Development of vibrational spectroscopy, microscopy and electrochemical methods to determine correlations between the interfacial microscopic properties and the macroscopic kinetic rates of electrochemical reactions. Multi-functional electrochemical interfaces for energy conversion and energy storage systems: (i) tuning EC activity and stability by tailoring surface structure, near surface composition and electronic properties of metals, metal-oxides/metals, and metal oxides materials; (ii) tuning selectivity by chemical modification of surfaces; (iii) tuning EC activity and stability by tailoring the properties of double layer components. (iv) Investigation and mitigation of the effect of impurities on long term electrochemical performance. Technology developments: (i) PEM, alkaline and phosphoric acid fuel cells; (ii) acid-based and alkaline-based electrolyzers; (iii) Li-air and Li ion batteries, lead-acid batteries (iv) environmental electrochemistry and metal deposition.
Interests/Keywords: Electrochemical interphases, model systems, electrocatalysis, electrolyzers, fuel cells, batteries
Collaboration Areas: Electrocatalysis of Ni-based HER and OER catalysts, SEI studies in battery-relevant electrolytes, ORR electrocatalysis on Pt-based systems
Highlights: Finšgar, M. et al. Combining ToF-SIMS and Multivariate Analysis to Resolve Active Sites on Ni-Based HER Catalysts. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026, 65, e19929
Ilic, S. et al. An unwanted guest in the electrochemical oxidation of high-voltage Li-ion battery electrolytes: the life of highly reactive protons. Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, 18, 8303-8312
Logar, A. et al. Bubble Trouble: Quantifying the Effects of Bubbles on the Electrochemical Interface. ACS Catal. 2025, 15, 8, 6380–6385
Chung, D.Y. et al. Electrokinetic Analysis of Poorly Conductive Electrocatalytic Materials. ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 9, 4990–4996
Strmcnik, D. et al. Electrocatalytic transformation of HF impurity to H2 and LiF in lithium-ion batteries. Nat Catal. 2018 1, 255–262.
Strmcnik, D. et al. Improving the hydrogen oxidation reaction rate by promotion of hydroxyl adsorption. Nature Chem. 2013, 5, 300–306
Strmcnik, D. et al. The role of non-covalent interactions in electrocatalytic fuel-cell reactions on platinum. Nature Chem. 2009, 1, 466–472
Slovenia