During her PhD studies, Sara Frank researched metal-organic frameworks and coordination polymers as promising electrocatalysts that can catalyze the conversion of CO₂ into value-added products and the evolution of oxygen from water. Sara Frank studied how the catalysts change after use, during pyrolysis, and under the operating conditions of electrocatalysis, using advanced X-ray synchrotron techniques, to uncover how their structure impacts performance.

The new research findings shed light on how these materials behave under reaction conditions and bring us a step closer to designing smarter catalysts for a more sustainable future.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering (BCE), Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 27 June at 14.00
Place: Building 1593, room 012, Lecture Theatre iNano Auditorium, iNano, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Elucidating the structure-property relationships in metal-organic framework and coordination polymer derived electrocatalysts
Contact information: Sara Frank, e-mail: sarafrank@bce.au.dk, tel.: +45 30703234
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Karena Chapman, Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, USA
Professor Kasper Steen Pedersen, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Associate Professor Patrick Biller (chair), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Nina Lock, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.