Since September 2025, Doğukan Hazar Apaydın has joined TU Wien as a tenure-track assistant professor in electrochemical energy conversion, further expanding the cluster’s expertise in photoelectrocatalysis and CO₂ conversion within MECS. His research focuses on integrated photoelectrochemical concepts for sustainable fuels and chemicals, closely aligned with MECS’ mission to develop materials and interfaces for green energy technologies.

Working in close collaboration with Prof. Dominik Eder, head of the Photocatalysis Pillar, he contributes to linking fundamental interface science with device‑oriented photoelectrochemical concepts across the cluster.

Recently, he has acquired two FFG‑funded research projects that connect strongly to the “Fuels & Energy” activities in MECS:
•       SOPHIE develops a hybrid solar “multiproduct collector” that combines photoelectrochemistry, photovoltaics, and solar thermal concepts to use the full solar spectrum more efficiently for hydrogen, electricity, and heat. The project explores spectral splitting, tandem PEC architectures, and advanced thermal management to reach high solar‑to‑X efficiencies and support flexible, decentralized renewable energy systems.
•       EUPHORIA advances photoelectrochemical CO₂ reduction using CIGS‑based photocathodes, tailored heterostructures, and selective catalysts, coupled with an energy‑saving anodic glycerol oxidation reaction. The project aims to achieve efficient conversion of CO₂ into syngas and valuable chemicals, with improved energy efficiency and sustainability, complementing MECS efforts on CO₂ conversion and solar fuels.

With these FFG‑funded projects, TU Wien and MECS strengthen their joint efforts to understand and design electrochemical interfaces for water splitting and CO₂ conversion – from fundamental mechanisms to innovative device architectures. The new tenure-track position, embedded in the photocatalysis activities around Prof. Eder, will also help train the next generation of scientists at the interface of electrochemistry, materials science, and sustainability in Vienna.