BrainMap

Mr. Nicolae Spataru

Dr.

Senior Researcher - INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU

Researcher | Scientific reviewer | PhD supervisor

Dr. Nicolae Spataru is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu” of the Romanian Academy. He earned PhD and Habilitation degrees in 1993 and 2014, respectively and has completed several postdoctoral and research internships at Osaka National Research Institute (Dr. Hiroyuki Kojima’s group) at Centre de Recherche en Electrochimie Minérale et en Génie des Procédés (Dr. Robert Durand’, group), and he joined for about two years the research team of Professor Akira Fujishima at The University of Tokyo and at Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology. Generally speaking, his overall research work in electrochemistry is spanning over four main topics: Photoelectrochemistry, Electrocatalysis, Electrochemistry of diamond and Electroanalysis. Dr. Spataru has published over 88 peer-reviewed papers with an H-index of 20.

Web of Science ResearcherID: GMW-7755-2022

Curriculum Vitae (01/04/2025)

Expertise & keywords

Bioethanol-fuel cells with metal-free anode for portable devices Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect de transfer la operatorul economic
PN-III-P2-2.1-PTE-2021-0592 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: STIMPEX S.A.

Project partners: STIMPEX S.A. (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO); INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://stimpex.ro/research/bioenergcell-celule-de-combustie-cu-anozi-fara-metale-nobile-alimentate-cu-bioetanol-pentru-dispozitive-portabile/

Abstract:

Fuel cells are notable for their potential to efficiently convert blocked energy into chemical bonds into electricity, while reducing pollutant emissions. Within this project, considering the challenges identified by the research team, we decided to make the technological transfer of a fuel cell powered by bioethanol from two research institutes, ICF and INCDFM, to the economic operator STIMPEX SA.

Thus, the main objective of the BIOENERGCELL proposal is to develop an industrial prototype (generically called BEC) - a fuel cell powered by bioethanol, using as anode an oxide without noble metals, economically competitive and dedicated to powering portable devices.

The specific objectives of our proposal are the following:

OS1 Scaling up of cheaper and more efficient oxide electrocatalysts, containing no noble metals, with increased activity, improved stability and increased tolerance to carbon deposition from CO formation as a reaction intermediate.

OS2 Technology transfer from the research institutes involved in the project (INCDFM and ICF) to the private company (SC STIMPEX SA) in order to create an industrial prototype (BEC) - polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC), electricity generator from renewable sources, used in portable devices.

Given the composition of the consortium, two research institutes and a company with experience in the project, and with a long history of collaboration, we are confident that the project is feasible and will bring progress in the field of innovative membrane fuel cell technology, and also environmental protection. In the long run, fuel cell technology can bring about major changes in the quality of life.

Advanced materials and laser / plasma processing technologies for energy and depollution: increasing the applicative potential and scientific interconnection in the field of eco-nanotechnologies Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0755 2018 - 2021

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA LASERILOR, PLASMEI SI RADIATIEI - INFLPR RA

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA LASERILOR, PLASMEI SI RADIATIEI - INFLPR RA (RO); INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO); UNIVERSITATEA PITESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO)

Project website: https://malasent46.wixsite.com/malasent

Abstract:

The MALASENT project proposes the development of research competencies of the consortium members in the field of advanced materials and their novel processing technologies, as well as a potential transfer towards industrial beneficiaries, for the energy production and complex decontamination of water and air. The scientific objectives associated this project proposal are the following:

- development of catalytic systems based on advanced materials processed by laser techniques and plasma, for complex processes of decontamination of residual waters and reduction of toxic exhaust gases emitted by internal combustion engines.

- development of heterostructures of advanced materials obtained by laser techniques and plasma for the production of energy through photolytic dissociation of the water molecule or photovoltaic.

- integration of the advanced materials through laser/plasma techniques in photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications at the industrial level.

The project proposal aims to consolidate, numerically and professionally, the human resources of the consortium, especially for the partner institution with recovery possibilities. Moreover, the project pursues an increase in the service providing capabilities for research services and in the establishment of consolidated collaborations with industrial beneficiaries, as well as in the visibility at the national and international level of the consortium members.

Interactional and functional effects of the substrate on the electrochemical behavior of micro and nanostructured metallic and oxidic deposits Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0272 2011 - 2016

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: Institutul de Chimie Fizica Ilie Murgulescu al Academiei Romane

Project partners: Institutul de Chimie Fizica Ilie Murgulescu al Academiei Romane (RO)

Affiliation: Institutul de Chimie Fizica Ilie Murgulescu al Academiei Romane (RO)

Project website: http://www.icf.ro/pr_2011/NS1/index.html

Abstract:

This project aims at systematically put into evidence interactional and functional effects of the substrate on the electrochemical performances of metallic (Pt) and oxidic (e.g., TiO2, RuO2, Co3O4) particles, estimated and quantified from their activity for O2 evolution and CH3OH oxidation. The choice of such materials (intensively studied in literature) and that of typical processes is justifiable because it allows focusing on the effects of the substrate, by avoiding the need for large amount of data on the electroactive material itself. A critical comparison of the results with those reported in literature will allow elucidating (at least partially) some controversial or contradictory aspects of the electrochemical properties of these materials. An important ab initio simplification results from the use of boron-doped diamond (BDD) as a substrate for electroactive particles. This enables neglecting capacitive and pseudo-capacitive influences, due to the outstanding features of BDD: low background current, high stability, and inertness to adsorption. The high overpotential for O2 evolution and the lack of activity for alcohols anodic oxidation are, in the context of this project, additional advantages. Since the influence of the substrate will be rather negligible, a more straightforward correlation between the specific properties of the deposited material and the overall electrochemical activity of the electrode system is expected.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects