Biography:
I am a Chemical Engineering researcher and PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. My research focuses on solar-driven hydrogen production using heterogeneous photocatalysis, with particular interest in TiO₂-based photocatalysts and the development of low-cost alternatives to platinum. My work investigates the synthesis, characterisation, and photocatalytic performance of copper and platinum loaded TiO₂ systems, as well as alcohol photoreforming and the mechanisms governing hydrogen evolution. I have conducted international research at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, through a DAAD-supported research stay. I have also received several academic awards for excellence and have published research in the field of hydrogen production.
Title : Photoreforming of 2-methyl-2-butanol over bare and Pt-loaded TiO₂: mechanistic insights & product selectivity under ambient conditions