IISER MOHALI

Abstract:

Electrochemical Modules for Sustainable Energy Applications Utilizing Small Molecules

As renewable electricity becomes increasingly abundant and affordable, leveraging this surplus to power next-generation chemical synthesis, separations, and energy storage will be key to achieving circularity and sustainability. In the presentation, I will focus on my recent works involving the technological advancements involving two molecules- H2 and CO2. Beginning with the molecular understanding of chemical transformation, transport phenomenon and reaction dynamics, I will show how these molecules could be reversibly interconverted between energy and chemical bonds- resulting into scalable modules. The talk will be structured into two parts. In the first part, I will discuss my previous works involving low temperature CO2 reduction (electrolyzer) with fundamental understanding of electrocatalyst design and how to modulate the reaction dynamics. I will discuss the knowledge gaps and the measures that must be taken to advance the field of CO2 electroreduction. In the second part I will discuss the challenges of proton transport in electrochemical devices- taking an example of Electrochemical Hydrogen Pumps (EHPs) I will highlight our key innovations in materials design and electrochemical engineering to overcome these challenges. This part will include the detailed discussion of ion-pair membrane technology developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

1. Chhetri et al. Electrochemical pumps based on ion-pair membranes for separation of hydrogen from low-concentration mixtures, Nature Energy 9, 1517–1528 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-024-01669-6

2. Chhetri et al. Dual-site catalysts featuring platinum-group-metal atoms on copper shapes boost hydrocarbon formations in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. Nat Commun 14, 3075 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38777-y

About the Speaker: Dr. Manjeet Chhetri
Dr. Manjeet Chhetri is a physical chemist specializing in electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering of energy-conversion devices such as CO₂ electrolyzers, fuel cells, and electrochemical hydrogen pumps. He earned his PhD from JNCASR, Bengaluru. He has held research positions at ANU (Australia), the University of Notre Dame (USA), Clemson University (USA), and Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he was a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow and received the Distinguished Postdoctoral Performance Award (2025). His work spans charge transport in membranes, CO₂ electrolysis, in-situ spectro-electrochemical diagnostics, and intermediate-temperature electrochemical devices. He is currently Assistant Professor at SRM University–AP, and his research focuses on materials and analytical tools for high-temperature and device-relevant electrochemistry. He teaches courses in physical chemistry, electrochemistry, and energy materials.