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Advanced International Summer School on Nanomaterial-Based Electrochemical Processes for Environment and Energy Applications
This 5-day intensive school, organized by the ECOMATES Project, aims to deepen participants’ understanding of cutting-edge electrochemical processes, focusing on CO₂ and nitrogen reduction, green hydrogen production, and fuel cell technologies, all of which are essential for advancing sustainable energy solutions.
Through a combination of expert-led lectures, interactive discussions, and a poster session, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest advancements in electrochemical processes, as well as the role of nanomaterials in addressing global energy and environmental challenges.
The school is open to 20 participants (students, researchers, and professionals) interested in the application of nanomaterials in electrochemical devices.
A key component of the school will be focused sessions on the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and hydrogen cycle, each critical for addressing pressing environmental and energy challenges:
Carbon Cycle
This session will focus on CO₂ reduction, an essential process in mitigating climate change.
By reducing CO₂ into valuable chemicals and fuels using nanomaterials and electrochemical methods, participants will explore how sustainable energy systems can close the carbon cycle and reduce carbon emissions.
Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle session will explore nitrate and nitrogen reduction reactions (N₂RR), processes that are vital for sustainable agriculture and environmental remediation.
This session will highlight the use of electrocatalysis to address challenges in converting nitrogen-based pollutants into useful compounds.
Hydrogen Cycle
The hydrogen cycle session will cover both hydrogen production via electrolysis and hydrogen uses via fuel cells.
Participants will learn about the latest advances in nanomaterials used to enhance the efficiency of hydrogen production through electrolysers, as well as the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel in fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity with water as the only byproduct.
These technologies are key to advancing clean energy systems and decarbonizing industries.
School programme
2nd June 2025: Introduction to Electrochemical Processes and the Carbon Cycle (first part)
3rd June 2025: The Carbon Cycle (second part), and the Nitrogen Cycle
4th June 2025: Excursion
5th June 2025: Hydrogen Cycle: Production and Use
6th June 2025: Fuel Cell Technology and Future Challenges
2nd June 2025: Introduction to Electrochemical Processes and the Carbon Cycle (first part)
Time | Activity | Speaker |
8.45-9.00 | Welcome and Introduction | Prof. G. Cicero (POLITO) |
09:00 – 10:30 | The Role on Electrochemical Processes in the Green Energy Transition | Prof. P. Strasser (TU-BERLIN) |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break | |
11:00 – 12:30 | Fundamentals of Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Cells | Prof. A. Zuettel (EPFL) |
12:30 – 15:30 | Lunch Break | |
15:30 – 17:00 | The Carbon Cycle: introduction to CO2RR | Prof. D. Voiry (UM) |
17:00 – 17:30 | Coffee Break | |
17:30 – 19:00 | Upscaled electrolysers for CO2RR. Technology & techno economical aspects. | Prof. D. Pant (VITO) |
3rd June 2025: The Carbon Cycle (second part), and the Nitrogen Cycle
Time | Activity | Speaker(s) |
09:00 – 10:30 | Electrochemical CO2 capture | Prof. A. Sacco (IIT) |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break | |
11:00 – 12:30 | Electrochemical Nitrogen Cycle: Fundamentals, Challenges, and Advances in Catalysts for N2 reduction | Prof. S. Ifan (ICL) |
12:30 – 15:30 | Lunch Break | |
15:30 – 17:00 | Nitrate Reduction: Pathways, Catalysis, and Environmental Applications | Prof. S. Garcia (POLITO) |
17:00 – 17:30 | Coffee Break | |
17:30 – 19:00 | Electrochemical Co-Reduction: Synergies Between Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles | Prof. P. Garcia de Arquer (ICFO) |
4th June 2025: Excursion
An excursion will be organize in the beautiful Crete island. More information coming soon.
5th June 2025: Hydrogen Cycle: Production and Use
Time | Activity | Speaker(s) |
09:00 – 10:30 | Advances in Green Hydrogen Production via Electrolysis (devices) | Prof. J. Zeng (POLITO) |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break | |
11:00 – 12:30 | Challenges in nanomaterials for HER & OER (catalysts) | Prof. F. Maillard (UGA) |
12:30 – 15:30 | Lunch Break | |
15:30 – 17:00 | Large-Scale Green Hydrogen: Techno-Economic Perspectives and Policy Considerations | Dr. M. Bulut (VITO) |
17:00 – 17:30 | Coffee Break | |
17:30 – 19:00 | Beyond Hydrogen Production: Storage and Distribution Systems | Prof. A. Zuettel (EPFL) |
From 20:00 | Social Buffet Dinner + Poster Session |
6th June 2025: Fuel Cell Technology and Future Challenges
Time | Activity | Speaker(s) |
09:00 – 10:30 | Overview of Fuel Cell Technologies and challenges | Dr. C. Felipe (TME) |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break | |
11:00 – 12:30 | Hydrogen Fuel Cells for light mobility applications | Dr. E. Santos (APRIA) |
12:30 – 15:30 | Lunch Break | |
15:30 – 17:00 | Challenges in Electrocatalysis: Operando characterization of electrified interfaces | Prof. B. Cuenya (FHI) |
17:00 – 17:30 | Coffee Break | |
17:30 – 19:00 | Challenges in Electrocatalysis: Realistic simulations of electrified interfaces | Prof. G. Cicero (POLITO) |
School Costs
There is no Conference fee.
Each attendee will have to pay for travel & accomodation expenses, meals, optional social activities.
School Venue
The Advanced International Summer School on Nanomaterial-Based Electrochemical Processes for Environment and Energy Applications will take place from June 2nd to 6th, 2025, in Chania, Crete (Greece), hosted at the Giannoulis – Santa Marina Beach Hotel.
School Organization
The School is organized by the ECOMATES consortium.
ECOMATES is a Marie-Curie Doctoral Network whose aim is to take a significant step forward in the development of a new electrochemical conversion route of CO₂ for the production of value-added products (CO, HCOOH and C2H4 ).
The project also aims to train a new generation of scientists who will be more environmentally aware and able to bring innovation to the field of electrocatalysis, with a focus on the design of new nanomaterials and nanostructures.