EcatalytiX II

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Welcome

Electrocatalysis is the cornerstone of technologies converting electrical power collected from intermittent sources into basic chemicals and fuels or vice-versa. In this regard, electrocatalytic reactions, such as the oxidation and reduction of water, the hydrogen oxidation or the carbon dioxide and oxygen reduction are of critical importance for the implementation of renewable sources in the energy mix of tomorrow.

Following the success of the EcatalytiX conference held in April 2024 in Strasbourg, France, EcatalytiX II will take place from April 8th to April 10th 2026, in Strasbourg. Its core objective is to take a look at the current and future techniques based on X-rays, visible, infrared or electron beams used to observe electrocatalytic reactions under conditions as close as possible to operation. Gathering scientists from all over Europe, the meeting wishes to shape directions to answer some of the following questions:

  • How theoretical and computational work can be combined with operando approaches to provide new insights on electrocatalysts’ and interfaces properties in operation?
  • What are the synergies and complementarities between lab-based operando approaches (e.g., FTIR, Raman, XPS) and their synchrotron counterparts?
  • What have been the most recent progresses in the field in terms of system design, new experimental and theoretical approaches?

This conference will be the ideal place to meet spectroscopists, microscopists, theoreticians, and electrochemists alike, discovering state-of-the-art operando approaches and how the future of the field is shaping up. Please note that the number of participants is limited to 100 and that the first come, first served principle will apply.

We look forward to seeing you in Strasbourg to contribute to this ambitious meeting.

 

Calendar:

Save the date:17/10/2025
Registration opening and abstract submission (Oral, Poster):  21/11/2025
Deadline for abstract submission (Oral, Poster):19/01/2026
Notification of acceptance:02/02/2026
Deadline for registration:23/02/2026
Conference:8 – 10/04/2026

Venue

The conference will take place at the Collège Doctoral Européen, in the heart of the Esplanade campus.  It is easily accessible from the old town of Strasbourg by feet (15-30 min) or tram (5-15min).

Program

Confirmed invited speakers

 

  • Katarina Doblhoff-Dier- Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

Katarina, established at the Leiden University as an assistant professor, is specialized in computational and theoretical methods aiming to rationalize the atomic scale processes occurring at metal interfaces. She uses a vast array of methods ranging from electronic structure computation to molecular dynamics and mean-field modelling, to grasp the full complexity of a metallic interface under operando conditions. In the frame of EcatalytiX II, her contribution will provide a crucial view on what theoreticians expect from experimental operando observations of electrocatalytic systems. 

  • Jakub Drnec - ESRF, Grenoble, France

Jakub, established at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility as the responsible for the ID31 beamline has been spearheading, through the continuous development of his beamline, the wide-spread use of tools to follow the morphological and chemical structure of electrocatalysts by crystallography, tomography and wide/small angle X-ray diffraction. All of these techniques were applied under operando conditions on samples ranging from model systems to highly complex, 3D, nanostructures. His energetic involvement in the operando electrocatalysiscommunity, helped push instrumental boundaries always further in order to address scientific challenges. 

  • Elena R. Savinova - Université de Strasbourg, France

Elena, is a full professor at the University of Strasbourg and editor-in-chief of Electrochimica Acta, the official journal of the International Society of Electrochemistry.  Throughout her career she has been exploring electrochemical interfaces using a variety of electrochemical as well as in situ and operando spectroscopic methods, including X-ray photoelectron and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, to chase reactive intermediates and thus refine reaction mechanisms. Her expertise provided her with a broad view of operando electrocatalysis, from selecting the most suitable methods for specific questions to understanding the field’s key dos and don’ts.

  • Vasiliki Tileli - EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

Vasiliki, established at the ‘Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne’ as an associate professor, is tackling what is arguably one of most challenging operando methods – transmission electron microscopy – to directly ‘look’ at the electrode/electrolyte interface, both during its formation (nucleation, growth, phase transformation) and use (surface reconstruction, degradation mechanism). She is therefore bringing to EcatalytiX II pivotal insights on the challenges and perspectives on this operando technique that is often debated and always looked at with great attention and hopes.

  • Janis Timoshenko - Fritz Haber Institute, Berlin, Germany

Janis, established at the Fritz-Haber-Institut of the Max Planck Society as the group leader of his namesake group, delves in operando hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy methods, exploring both application and developments of these powerful methods for revealing the working structures of electrocatalysts. He pushes the technical limits of the XAS-based methods in all directions, either away from synchrotron radiation by developing lab-scale operando setups or toward higher time resolution and precision in data analysis by using machine learning as a mean to improve and expand data analysis processes.

 

Committees

Scientific Committee

  • Tristan Asset - ICPEES, Strasbourg, France
  • Veronica Celorrio - Diamond Light Source, Oxfordshire, UK
  • Maria-Letizia De Marco - IPCMS, Strasbourg, France
  • Emiliana Fabbri - PSI/Universität Basel, Switzerland
  • Benedikt Lassalle – ITODYS, Paris, France
  • Alexandr Oshchepkov – ESPCI, Paris, France
  • Marie-Ingrid Richard - ESRF/CEA, Grenoble, France
  • Robert Temperton - MAX IV, Lund, Sweden

Local Organising Committee

  • Tristan Asset, ICPEES, Strasbourg, France
  • Kevin Jeanpert – ICPEES, Strasbourg, France
  • Benedikt Lassalle – ITODYS, Paris, France
  • Agnès Orb – ICPEES, Strasbourg, France
  • Vasiliki Papaefthymiou – ICPEES, Strasbourg, France
  • Michèle Thomas – ICPEES, Strasbourg, France

Registration

Type of participationAmount
Industrial participant€450 VAT included
Regular participant€300 VAT included
Student€150 VAT included
Invited speaker / Organizing CommitteeFree

Registration fees include:

• Entry to all scientific sessions (oral and poster presentations)

• Coffee breaks from Wednesday, 08/04 to Friday 10/04

• Lunch breaks on Wednesday 08/04 and Thursday 09/04

• Cocktail during poster session on Wednesday 08/04

• Conference gala dinner on Thursday 09/04

Registrations are not opened yet

Sponsors / exhibitors

  • Industrial sponsors

Stands are available for companies to promote their products and services during the poster session, coffee and lunch breaks that will take place at the Collège Doctoral Européen, to encourage exchanges with conference participants and other companies.

Two offers are available for industrial sponsors:

Offer n°Fee in € (inc.VAT)Includes
11500Registration for 2 pers.; 6m2 stand + poster panel; logo display on webpage and electronic booklet; one page in electronic booklet
2500Logo display on webpage and electronic booklet; one page in electronic booklet
 

Please contact us if you would like to sponsor this event at icpees-ecatalytix[at]unistra.fr 
 

  • Academic  sponsors

Practical Information

The European Doctoral College Residence is located on the Esplanade campus, not far from the city center.

  • From Strasbourg train station
    • 30 minutes on foot: walk to the cathedral, then to the riverbanks, and take Boulevard de la Victoire.
    • By direct tram, 20 minutes: take line “C” to the “Observatoire” stop. When you get off the tram, you will find the residence to the right of the gas station.
  • From Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport
    • Take the airport shuttle train to Strasbourg Central Station (8 min journey). From there, follow the directions given in the previous paragraph.