Professor of Electrochemistry Jaak Nerut speaks of the role of hydrogen in meeting climate targets in his inaugural lecture

On Tuesday, 24 September, at 16:15, Jaak Nerut, Professor of Electrochemistry at the University of Tartu, delivers his inaugural lecture “A hydrogen-based future. The role of electrochemistry in meeting climate targets” in the White Hall of the University Museum.

The widespread production, storage, transport and use of hydrogen form the foundations of the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen is used in the chemical industry, for example, to produce ammonia, which in turn is used to produce fertilisers. Hydrogen also plays a vital role in the fuel cells of zero-emission vehicles, in which hydrogen’s chemical energy is converted into electricity. This can significantly reduce air pollution, especially in densely populated areas.

Hydrogen is mainly produced from fossil fuels, but this is not sustainable. Professor Jaak Nerut argues that switching to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, is increasingly important to meet climate targets. “This is a sustainable choice from the environmental and resource perspective: the CO₂ footprint decreases, energy security increases, and people’s living environment improves,” the professor said.

However, with solar and wind energy, electricity generation is not continuous, and grids cannot absorb all the energy at peak production times. “It is necessary to find new solutions for energy storage. Therefore, my research focuses on the efficient storage of energy in hydrogen and using it, for example, in fuel cells or as a raw material for the chemical industry,” Nerut explained. Specifically, the surplus renewable energy can be used to produce hydrogen through water electrolysis. The hydrogen can then be used for electricity generation or various chemical processes, such as methanol production or oil refining.

In his lecture, Jaak Nerut discusses the importance of electrochemistry in the development of hydrogen technology, including low-temperature water electrolysis, the use of hydrogen in low-temperature fuel cells, and its storage possibilities.

Jaak Nerut graduated from the University of Tartu in chemistry in 2002. During his master’s and doctoral studies, he explored the regularities of charge transfer on solid electrodes. He defended his doctoral thesis “Electroreduction of hexacyanoferrate(III) anion on Cd(0001) single crystal electrode” in physical chemistry and electrochemistry at the University of Tartu in 2007. Since 2002, Nerut has worked at the University of Tartu Institute of Chemistry. He became the Senior Research Fellow in Physical and Electrochemistry in 2019 and the Professor of Electrochemistry in 2023.

Nerut’s main research area is low-temperature fuel cells and electrolysers. Over the past 15 years, he has primarily studied oxygen reduction on various electrode materials of fuel cells. The focus of his research team has been to identify the role of carbon materials in platinum-based catalysts. In addition, Nerut has been involved in developing rare-earth-based anode catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells, designing bio-electrochemical systems for nitrate removal from water, applying the absolute pH scale in solvent mixtures, and developing and testing an oxygen sensor. Nerut has led various research projects, ranging from materials studies and manufacturing fuel cells to developing practical applications for Auve Tech’s autonomous driving vehicles or Stargate electrolysers.

The inaugural lecture aims to give new professors an opportunity to introduce themselves and their field of research and topic. At the end of the public lecture, the audience is welcome to ask questions. Everyone interested is welcome.

The inaugural ceremony is also live-streamed on UTTV.