Ziba S.H.S. Rajan

I joined HySA/Catalysis at the University of Cape Town after obtaining my BSc. Eng. (Chemical) degree in December 2017 as a research assistant and the first MSc. student in the then-newly established Electrolyzer Group under the supervision of Dr. Rhiyaad Mohamed and Dr. Tobias Binninger. During my MSc., I grew my knowledge and expertise towards the development of a novel synthesis approach to deposit rutile iridium dioxide nanoparticles on oxidic support materials to create highly efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As a research assistant, I lead the electrolyzer technology development activities in the fabrication of catalyst layers/membrane electrode assemblies using ultrasonic spray-coating. From 2020-2022, I was a project manager for the University of Cape Town- Leibniz University Hanover Rainbow project. This project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the overall aim was to enhance the technology readiness level of various PEM electrolyzer components and materials. In 2020, I registered for my Ph.D. where the topic of research is the investigation and characterization of electronic metal-support interactions of oxide-supported Ir-based catalysts for the OER. In January 2023, I was promoted to Senior Scientific Officer at HySA/Catalysis. In my current role, I am responsible for the development of various characterization tools, electrolyzer catalyst scale-up activities as well as the coordination and development of catalyst coated membranes for PEM electrolyzer applications. I am due to complete my doctoral studies which were started in 2020, where the topic of research is about developing a fundamental understanding of electronic metal-support interactions in oxide-supported Ir-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. I am extremely fortunate to have been given numerous opportunities that have shaped me as a scientist who has a balanced understanding of both fundamental research and technology development in the PEM electrolysis space. I have supervised several undergraduate chemical engineering honors students at the University of Cape Town, and last year, I had the chance to lecture the undergraduate chemical engineering course titled ‘Heterogenous Catalysis’; here, I taught the portions about the role of renewable hydrogen in our society as well as the sections on electrolysis and electrolyzers. To summarise, I absolutely love science and all I want to do is help society with my scientific skills and knowledge.