Dragos Neagu

Available PhD projects:

• Instant-on solid oxide cells for hydrogen production and power generation. https://bit.ly/2y1xf0V
• Tuning materials from within: growing endo/exo-particles for energy conversion devices. https://bit.ly/2WRVCGY

My vision is to establish an internationally competitive research group, focused on delivering next-generation multifunctional materials and technologies for renewable energy conversion, making a significant technological impact in areas where mankind faces global scientific challenges, by combining out of the box thinking with strong multidisciplinary, analytical skills.

I joined the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde, as Lecturer, Chancellor’s Fellow in April 2020, bringing a wealth of multidisciplinary research experience. Prior to this, I worked as a research associate at Newcastle University on advanced materials for catalysis, chemical looping hydrogen production and membranes for carbon dioxide capture and before that at the University of St Andrews on materials for solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysis cells as well as catalysis. I hold a PhD on materials and devices for electrochemical energy conversion from the University of St Andrews, UK.

I have a strong record of introducing innovative, ground-breaking concepts in the field of advanced nanomaterials and energy conversion applications. I have 3 international patents and 25 refereed journal publications, including five in the prestigious Nature-family journals and two in Energy and Environmental Science.

I am also passionate about communicating science, mentoring, and finding new ways of visualizing and presenting data.

• Materials, methods and concepts in solid-state physical chemistry of oxide materials and nanomaterials
• Design and preparation of new functional oxide materials and devices for various energy conversion applications, including solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cells, catalysis (oxidation reactions, hydrocarbon catalysis), redox conversion for hydrogen or syngas production
• Electrochemistry, electrochemical devices and processes
• Cation and oxygen nonstoichiometric perovskite oxide materials
• Surface and bulk structure and properties of materials by diffraction, spectroscopy and electron microscopy
• Structure-property correlations in complex systems for (electro)catalytic applications
• Hyphenated, in situ or operando techniques for understanding structure-property-application correlations
• Materials chemistry and engineering solutions for renewable energy and sustainability
• Data visualization, communicating science  

I have extensive expertise in energy materials, chemical physics, solid state ionics, ceramic synthesis, processing, electrochemistry, heterogenous catalysis, membranes, as well as in the design, preparation, testing and modelling of new oxide or composite materials.

• Materials: oxides, composites, nanoparticles, nanomaterials, perovskites, spinels, molten carbonates
• Methods: X-ray diffraction, absorption, photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, electrochemical testing
• Technologies: fuel cells, electrolysis cells, catalysts, membranes
• Software: Mathematica, Origin Pro, CrystalMaker, GSAS II, CASA XPS, Blender