Advancing hydrogen research for a sustainable future
Dr. Aparna Saksena leads new "Hydrogen at Interfaces" research group
Dr. Aparna Saksena is now heading the “Hydrogen at Interfaces” research group at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPI-SusMat). Hydrogen plays a crucial role in creating a sustainable future. From powering green steel production to providing clean fuel, it is central to decarbonization. However, current hydrogen production methods are not efficient enough to meet growing demand. In addition, hydrogen can penetrate materials and weaken them, raising safety concerns for infrastructure and structural components. Saksena’s group uses atom probe tomography (APT), an advanced microscopy technique, to explore how hydrogen interacts with materials. Their work addresses challenges in both production efficiency and preventing material failures caused by hydrogen embrittlement.
“I am thrilled to lead this group and grateful to my mentors at MPI-SusMat and RWTH Aachen University for their unwavering support. Tackling the challenges of decarbonization is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I’m excited to contribute to this vital global effort. With MPI-SusMat’s excellent infrastructure, we have a unique opportunity to unlock the full potential of APT for a sustainable, hydrogen-driven future,” says Saksena.
Sustainable hydrogen can be produced by electrolytically splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen. Catalysts play a vital role in this process as they speed up the chemical process. The surface composition, crystallographic orientations, facets and microstructure defects have decisive influence on the catalyst’s properties. The group aims to analyze these different influences to reveal mechanisms that could enhance water splitting, thus making hydrogen production more efficient. While discussing hydrogen as a key factor for decarbonization, hydrogen embrittlement is still a challenge. Understanding how hydrogen diffuses inside a material is pivotal. However, hydrogen, as the smallest and lightest of all elements, is notoriously hard to track. To slow down the hydrogen diffusion, the group freezes probes down to cryogenic temperatures below -150 °C. Freezing the probes the team is able to observe what happens at the hydrogen-material interface during different stages of hydrogen exposure.
Saksena studied materials chemistry at the RWTH Aachen University and joined MPI-SusMat in 2020, working in the Atom Probe Tomography group as deputy group leader. In 2024, she was chosen to participate in the Max Planck Society's Sign-Up for leadership program, which empowers exceptional female scientists to advance as leaders in their field. The program included seminars covering professional communication, self-management, as well as leadership strategies and performance skills.