Spiros Zafeiratos

This research focuses on using nickel-based catalysts to transform carbon dioxide into useful fuels and chemicals using heterogenous catalysis (thermocatalysis). By understanding how these materials operate at the atomic level during reactions, more efficient and durable catalysts can be designed for CO₂ recycling.

1. Barreau, M.; Salusso, D.; Zhang, J.; Haevecker, M.; Teschner, D.; Efimenko, A.; Borfecchia, E.; Sobczak, K.; Zafeiratos, S. Thermal Activation and Deactivation of Ni-Doped Ceria Catalysts in CO2 Methanation. Small Science 2025, 5, 2400540, https://doi:10.1002/SMSC.202400540.
2. Barreau, M.; Salusso, D.; Zhang, J.; Haevecker, M.; Teschner, D.; Efimenko, A.; Bournel, F.; Gallet, J.J.; Borfecchia, E.; Sobczak, K.; et al. Uncovering the Critical Function of Lanthanum in CH4 Production from CO2 Using Exsolved LaNiO3 Perovskite Catalysts. J Mater Chem A Mater 2024, 12, 7605–7621, https://doi:10.1039/D3TA07391B.
3. Barreau, M.; Salusso, D.; Li, J.; Zhang, J.; Borfecchia, E.; Sobczak, K.; Braglia, L.; Gallet, J.J.; Torelli, P.; Guo, H.; Lin, S.; Zafeiratos, S. Ionic Nickel Embedded in Ceria with High Specific CO2 Methanation Activity. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2023), 62, e202302087, doi.org/10.1002/anie.202302087

The research focuses on electrode materials for solid oxide cells, aiming to improve their performance and durability by understanding how they operate under real working conditions.

1. Zhang, J.; Barreau, M.; Dintzer, T.; Haevecker, M.; Teschner, D.; Efimenko, A.; Luo, W.; Zafeiratos, S. Unveiling Key Interface Characteristics of Ni/Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Solid Oxide Cell Electrodes in H2O Electroreduction Using Operando X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024, 16, 37915–37926, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c05046 .
2. D. Chen, J. Zhang, M. Barreau, S. Turczyniak-Surdacka, O. Joubert, A.L.G. la Salle & S. Zafeiratos, S. (2023). Ni-doped CeO2 nanoparticles to promote and restore the performance of Ni/YSZ cathodes for CO2 electroreduction. Applied Surface Science, 611, 155767. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APSUSC.2022.155767
3. D. Chen, M. Barreau, S. Turczyniak-Surdacka, K. Sobczak, M. Strawski, A.L.G. La Salle, A. Efimenko, D. Teschner, C. Petit, S. Zafeiratos, Ceria nanoparticles as promoters of CO2 electroreduction on Ni/YSZ: an efficient preparation strategy and insights into the catalytic promotion mechanism, Nano Energy. 101 (2022) 107564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107564

 .

This research (in collaboration with  Cuong Pham-Huu research team) investigates replacing external furnace heating in catalytic reactors with induction-based electrical activation, enabling direct energy delivery to catalysts and enhancing both efficiency and operational flexibility.

1. Zafeiratos, S.; Ulrich, G.; Nhut, J.M.; Michon, C.; Pham-Huu, C. Electrification of Catalytic Processes with Induction Heating: The Possible Hidden Role of Non-Thermal Magnetic Fields. Materials Today Catalysis 2026, 12, 100134, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100134.
2. Truong-Phuoc, L.; Duong-Viet, C.; Nhut, J.M.; Pappa, A.; Zafeiratos, S.; Pham-Huu, C. Induction Heating for the Electrification of Catalytic Processes. ChemSusChem 2025, 18, e202402335, https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202402335.

This research applies Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate the environmental and energy impacts of novel CO₂ conversion processes and catalysts developed at the laboratory scale. The goal is to identify the most promising solutions early on and guide the design of more sustainable technologies.

Pappa, A.; Pham-Huu, C.; Papaefthimiou, S.; Zafeiratos, S. Catalytic Approaches for CO₂ Conversion to Value-Added Products: An Overview of Life Cycle Assessment Studies. Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research 2025, 6, 2400399.  

https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400399.

This research uses in situ and operando spectroscopy to probe the surface of catalytic and electrocatalytic materials under working conditions, combining laboratory and synchrotron-based techniques. These methods reveal how surface composition and chemistry evolve during reactions and design better catalysts.

1. Salusso, D.; Scarfiello, C.; Efimenko, A.; Minh, D.P.; Serp, P.; Soulantica, K.; Zafeiratos, S. Direct Evidence of Dynamic Metal Support Interactions in Co/TiO2 Catalysts by Near-Ambient Pressure X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 2672, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192672.
2. Zafeiratos, S. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy in Catalysis: Impact and Historical Background. Catalytic Science Series (2023), 21, 1–11,  https://doi.org/10.1142/9781800613294_0001.
3. Doh, W. H.; Papaefthimiou, V.; Dintzer, T.; Dupuis, V.; Zafeiratos, S., Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy as a Tool To Resolve the Dimensions of Spherical Core/Shell Nanoparticles. Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2014, 118 (46), 26621-26628, https://doi.org/10.1021/jp508895u