Paula Sebastián Pascual

Since January 2024, I have been an Assistant Professor and WISE fellowship (Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability) at the Chemistry Department at KTH of Technology. Before moving to Sweden, I was a postdoc researcher (2018-2022) and principal investigator (2023) at the University of Copenhagen. My main scientific interest is understanding why different surface structures have different catalytic properties and investigating new electrochemical methods to prepare tailor-made nanostructured catalysts for electrocatalysis.

Our group:

Nanostructure electrodeposition and electrocatalysis.

We are a young research group in experimental electrochemistry. Our main goal is to understand what makes catalysts suitable for specific electrocatalytic reactions from an experimental basis. More specifically, we aim to find which electrochemical conditions and catalyst structures enable more efficient production of renewable chemicals. Our research combines studies on model surfaces, such as single crystalline electrodes, and electrodeposition methods to prepare nanostructured surfaces with tailored geometry and composition for their application in different energy conversion reactions.

Projects.

1) Tailor-made copper surfaces for the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide and bio-based organic molecules.

Copper has promising catalytic properties for different reactions, such as carbon dioxide's electrochemical hydrogenation and the conversion of biomass-derived aldehydes to produce fuels and chemicals. However, these electrocatalytic reactions are affected by the active site´s geometry and surface structure. Here, we perform studies with copper single facets and prepare copper surfaces with tuned facet distribution to tune product selectivity in electrocatalytic reactions.

Voltammetric fingerprints of Cu single facets and tailored copper electrodes.

2) Nanostructure electrodeposition of multimetallics.

Here, we investigate the applicability of biocompatible, nontoxic solvents, such as deep eutectic solvents (DES) and/or other ionic liquids, to prepare nanostructured materials using the electrodeposition technique. Our research aims to assess the effects of solvent and substrate on the first stages and growth mechanism of the deposited nanostructures.

3) Organic oxidation reactions and hybrid electrolysis.

Water electrolysis to produce hydrogen is energy-consuming due to the large overpotential needed for the oxygen evolution reaction at the anode. Alternatively, the hydrogen evolution reaction can be coupled with the oxidation of bio-based organic molecules, which requires lower applied potentials and produces valuable compounds. Here, we aim to rationally address how composition in bimetallic nanostructures influences product selectivity, overpotential, and catalyst stability under oxidation reaction conditions.

Cell for metal electrodeposition, deposited PdAu3  and formic acid oxidation.

Members:

Vicente Pascual Llorens (2024-2028).

Vicente is a chemical engineer and holds a Master's degree in Electrochemistry, science, and Technology from the University of Alicante (Spain). After completing his master's degree, he spent one year at the Chemistry Department of the University of Copenhagen working as a research assistant in the group of Electrochemistry.  During his PhD, he will explore new electrochemical strategies to prepare tailor-made copper surfaces with tuned surface structures.

Current positions:

(2025-2027) Postdoc position on the partial oxidation of biomass-derived aldehydes(close,  selection process).

(2025-2029) PhD position on nanostructure electrodeposition for organic oxidation reactions(open, KTH | Doctoral student in nanostructure electrosynthesis for organic oxidation reactions )

We are also looking for highly motivated  MSc and Bachelor students to carry out projects within us (contact: paulasp@kth.se).

Some publications:

(1)Pascual-Llorens, V.; Serra-Ramos, A.; Mazaira-Couce, P.; Escudero-Escribano, M.;Sebastián-Pascual, P.*;Surface nanostructuring of copper using fluoride and chloride.ChemElectroChem, 2024, 10.1002/celc.202400414.

(2)Plaza-Mayoral, E.; Okatenko, V.; Nicole Dalby, K.; Falsig, H.; Chorkendorff, I.;Sebastian-Pascual, P.*;  Escudero-Escribano, M.*;Composition effects of electrodeposited Cu-Ag nanostructured electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction.i-Science (2024) Volume 27, Issue 6109933.10.1016/j.isci.2024.109933.

(3)Plaza-Mayoral, E.*; N. Dalby, K.; Falsig, H.; Chorkendorff, Ib.;Sebastián-Pascual, P.*; Escudero-Escribano, M.*;Preparation of Tunable Cu−Ag Nanostructures by Electrodeposition in a Deep Eutectic Solvent.ChemElectroChem, (2024), 11,e202400094.10.1002/celc.202400094.

(4) Mazaira-Couce, P.; Kongstad Madsen, T.; Plaza-Mayoral, E.; Høgh H Kristoffersen, H.*;Chorkendorff, I.; Nicole-Dalby, K.; van der Stam, W.; Rossmeisl, J.; Escudero-Escribano, M.*;Sebastián-Pascual, P.*;Tailoring the facet distribution of copper with chloride. Chemical Science, (2024),10.1039/D3SC05988J.

(5)Sebastián-Pascual, P.; Escudero-Escribano, M.,Addressing the Interfacial Properties for CO Electroreduction on Cu with Cyclic Voltammetry.ACS Energy Letters,5, 1(2020) 130-135.10.1021/acsenergylett.9b02456.

(6)Sebastián-Pascual, P.; Petersen, A. S.; Bagger, A.; Rossmeisl, J.; Escudero-Escribano, M., PH and Anion Effects on Cu–Phosphate Interfaces for CO Electroreduction.ACS Catalysis,11 (2021) 1128–1135. 10.1021/acscatal.0c03998.

Funding:

These projects are funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and we are part of the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE) program.

Contact details:

E-mail:paulasp@kth.se

Office:723, lab 755

Adress:TEKNIKRINGEN 30