Rubén Ramírez Grau successfully defends his PhD thesis on MXenes for photocatalytic applications
Yesterday, Rubén Ramírez Grau from the HG energy group defended his doctoral thesis titled “MXenos como nuevos materiales para reacciones fotocatalíticas.”
This thesis stands out not only for its scientific depth, but also for the fact that it marked the group’s first foray into MXene-based materials—an emerging and complex class of 2D compounds. Rubén’s research involved years of work building knowledge from scratch: synthesizing, characterizing, and testing MXenes as photocatalysts in hydrogen evolution and CO₂ reduction reactions.
The thesis includes:
- The influence of Nb₂C exfoliation on hydrogen production efficiency.
- Green synthesis of MXene quantum dots (MXene QDs) without using HF, and their role in hydrogen evolution.
- Use of MXene QDs in CO₂ hydrogenation.
- Liquid-phase laser ablation as a versatile, green method to modify surface chemistry for photocatalytic applications, including water splitting.
The work was supervised by Ana Primo and Hermenegildo García, and evaluated by a committee formed by Sara Iborra, Alberto Marinas, and Carlos Baleizão.
Rubén’s thesis has already resulted in at least 10 publications in high-impact scientific journals. At HG energy, we are proud of this achievement and the contribution it brings to the development of new materials for a sustainable energy future.
