Anastasiia Konovalova has extensive experience in soft materials for electrochemical energy conversion, with work ranging from polymer functionalization to ion-exchange membrane fabrication. Her expertise includes comprehensive physical and chemical ex-situ characterization of the membranes and in-situ applications in fuel cells, electrolysers, and batteries using various electroanalytical techniques.
At DTU Energy, as part of the Section for Electrochemical Materials, she will contribute to understanding polymer electrolyte membranes, which are core components of zero-gap and hybrid CO2 reduction reactors. For example, by incorporating pH-sensitive fluoroprobes into commercially available polymer materials, Ana’s research aims to detect, visualize, and map local pH changes on the surface and within the bulk of membranes in operational cells using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Additionally, by using SAXS (Small Angle X-Ray Scattering), she will work towards understanding water transport and water retention phenomena in membranes carefully tailored for CO2 reduction purposes. Overall, her work will be a part of a larger effort to develop targeted solutions for polymer electrolyte membranes in CO2 electrolysis systems and other electrochemical reactors.
