About
Background and objectives of the Conference
The transition toward a global decarbonized economy is one of the major scientific and technological challenges of the 21st century. Achieving carbon neutrality requires the integration of renewable energy, large scale energy storage, and efficient conversion of small molecules. In this context, electrocatalysis plays a central role in key electrochemical reactions relevant to low carbon energy technologies, including hydrogen evolution, water oxidation, oxygen, nitrogen and nitrate reduction, and electrochemical CO₂/CO conversion. These reactions underpin critical applications such as green hydrogen production, fuel cells, ammonia synthesis, and CO₂ valorization for fuels and chemicals.
Significant progress has been made in recent decades in the development of advanced electrocatalytic materials, including transition metal based catalysts, single atom catalysts, two dimensional materials, and hierarchical nanostructures. Research efforts aim to enhance catalytic activity, selectivity, stability, and economic viability. However, major challenges remain, notably the dependence on noble metals, long term performance degradation, and barriers to industrial scale implementation.
Against this background, a comprehensive analysis of current electrocatalytic strategies is needed to identify scientific bottlenecks and future technological directions. ICIM 2026 seeks to contribute to this effort with a particular focus on structure–activity relationships, reaction mechanisms, and material engineering approaches that can optimize electrocatalytic performance and accelerate industrial deployment.
