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Design and development of unconventional catalytic conversion processes using electrons, photons, and microorganisms


    Problem Statement

    Our long-term commitment to sustainability and a circular carbon economy involves unconventional catalytic conversion processes. We study various processes assisted by electrons, photons, or microorganisms to produce biofuels, chemicals, electricity, or treated water. For example, bio-electro-chemical systems, including microbial fuel cells (MFCs), electrolysis cells (MECs), and photo-assisted cells (PA-MECs), are promising technologies to simultaneously produce renewable energy and clean wastewater using active microorganisms as biocatalysts.

    Our work aims to synthesize multi-functional catalysts and reactors to enhance electrical conductivity, photo-efficiency, microbiological affinity, porosity, hydrophilicity, and surface area for carbonaceous electrodes. We work with materials such as graphene oxide, metallic nanoparticles, nitride and carbide basic materials, and MXenes.

    We consider new platform technologies to produce renewable biofuel and chemicals and treat wastewater using the nanotechnology and reaction engineering approach as an innovative combination to increase the productivity of these processes.

    EPB

    Goals

    • Develop and scale up electro-photo-bio-catalyst and -reactors
    • Propose novel processes to clean wastewater and produce electricity, chemicals, and bio-hydrogen
    • Model and simulate fuel cell performance
    • Use innovative catalysts (anode and cathode material) and reactor designs to improve fuel cell performance

    Related People

    Related Publications

    MXene-based electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduction: advances, challenges, and perspectives
    Mater. Horizons Year: 2025 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00905G
    Authors: Abo Talas, Kolubah, khairova, Alqahtani, El-Hout, Alissa, El-Demellawi, Castaño, Mohamed
    • HCE
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    Rational design of cylindrical microbial electrolysis cells for high-strength wastewater treatment and scalable hydrogen production
    Chem. Eng. J. Year: 2025 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.167285
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    • EPB
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    Balancing Surface Chemistry and Flake Size of MXene-Based Electrodes for Bioelectrochemical Reactors
    Small Year: 2025 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202406223
    Authors: Kolubah, Mohamed, Hari, Ping, Hassine, Dally, Obaid, Xu, El-Demellawi, Saikaly, Lanza, Ghaffour, Castaño
    • EPB
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    Photothermal Catalysts, Light and Heat Management: From Materials Design to Performance Evaluation
    Adv. Energy Mater. Year: 2025 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202405272
    Authors: Ramos-Fernandez, Rendón-Patiño, Mateo, Wang, Dally, Cui, Castaño, Gascon
    • CRE
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    Synergistic integration of dark fermentation and microbial electrolysis cells for hydrogen production and sustainable swine manure treatment
    Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Year: 2025 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.453
    Authors: Hussien, Mohamed, Jadhav, Bahaa, Jo, Jang, Kim, Kwon, Sayed, Alkadhem, Castaño, Chae
    • EPB
    Ru-Oᵥ Site-Mediated Product Selectivity Switch for Overall Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction
    Adv. Mater. Year: 2025 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202411813
    Authors: Feng, Hu, Luo, Castaño, Ren, Rueping, Zhang
    • EPB
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    Microbial symbiotic electrobioconversion of carbon dioxide to biopolymer (poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)) via single-step microbial electrosynthesis cell
    Chem. Eng. J. Year: 2024 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.156635
    Authors: Le, Mohamed, Kim, Yoo, Eisa, Jadhav, Nguyen, Eam, Myung, Castaño, Chae
    • EPB
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    Sustainable Energy Production from Domestic Wastewater via Bioelectrochemical Reactors Using MXene Efficient Electrodes Decorated with Transition Metal Nanoparticles
    J. Environ. Chem. Eng. Year: 2024 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.113793
    Authors: Kolubah, Hedhili, Hassine, Díaz-Rúa, Drautz-Moses, Obaid, Ghaffour, Saikaly, Mohamed, Castaño
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    Dual function sMoS2-cellulose/PVDF-based membrane for energy generation and pollutant removal
    Chem. Eng. J. Year: 2024 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.154597
    Authors: Palanisamy, Kolubah, Im, Thangarasu, Hari, Saikaly, Mohamed, Castaño, Oh
    • EPB
    W2N-MXene composite anode catalyst for efficient microbial fuel cells using domestic wastewater
    Chem. Eng. J. Year: 2023 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.141821
    Authors: Kolubah, Mohamed, Ayach, Hari, Alshareef, Saikaly, Chae, Castaño
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