Ilgar Ayyubov
Chemical Engineer
Budapest,BU
Summary
PhD-level researcher with a strong background in electrochemical energy systems, hydrogen energy technologies, electrocatalysis, and materials characterization. Extensive experience in design, synthesis, and electrochemical evaluation of nanostructured electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen oxidation reaction in PEM fuel cells. Proven proficiency in advanced physicochemical characterization techniques. Hands-on expertise with electrochemical analysis methods and single-cell PEMFC testing. Demonstrated ability to work across interdisciplinary teams, contribute to international research projects, and mentor students.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Languages
Work History
Research Fellow
HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences
10.2019 - Current
- Performed hydrogen fuel cell research on CO-tolerant and stable electrocatalyst development.
- Synthesized and analyzed carbon (e.g., graphite oxide (GO), reduced GO, graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), multilayer graphene (MLG), N-doped carbon) containing catalyst supports.
- Designed, synthesized and characterized novel electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells with enhanced stability by 50% over commercial alternatives.
- Performed electrochemical analyses including cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), rotating disk electrode (RDE) linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and durability tests.
- Conducted physicochemical characterization of materials (XRD, TEM, ATR-IR, TGA, Raman, BET).
- Developed and characterized membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), focusing on nanoscale activity/stability relationships.
- Investigated degradation behavior under accelerated stress conditions.
- Investigated nitrogen-doped carbon materials as alternative energy storage solutions.
- Designed and developed a custom conductivity measurement system.
- Performed troubleshooting/repairs on experimental setups and custom-built testing equipment.
- Optimized operating parameters for stability and performance through iterative testing.
- Contributed to EU-funded research projects on hydrogen energy technologies and supported industry collaborations.
- Participated in national and EU-funded R&D consortia coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
- Published multiple peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, contributed to technical reports.
Laboratory Instructor
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
09.2021 - 03.2024
- Taught Physical Chemistry Lab courses on adsorption, ionic strength, and gels to graduate and undergraduate 50+ students.
- Provided academic mentorship and evaluated student performance.
- Mentored students in electrochemistry, fuel cell, and material science experiments.
Chemical Engineer Intern
SOCAR Polymer
07.2018 - 08.2018
- Assisted in pre-commissioning activities at polymer production plants.
- Reviewed Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) for plant optimization.
Education
PhD - Chemical Engineering
01.2020 - 01.2024
- Dissertation: Novel electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cells using advanced carbonaceous materials
- Research focus: Electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cells
- Developed novel nanomaterials for improved fuel cell performance
- Specialized in in-situ electrochemical analysis and advanced material characterization
- GPA: Summa Cum Laude
MSc - Chemical Engineering
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Thesis: Preparation and characterization of Pt-based electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cells
- GPA: Excellent with Highest Honors
BSc - Chemical Engineering
01.2013 - 01.2018
GPA: Excellent with Highest Honors
Skills
Catalyst Synthesis & Modification
Materials Characterization
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Catalytic testing
Structure-property relationship analysis
Electrochemical & Performance Testing
Impedance Spectroscopy
Cyclic Voltammetry
International Conferences
- 9th Carbon for Energy Storage and Environment Protection, 2023, Budapest, Hungary
- 15th European Congress on Catalysis, 2023, Prague, Czechia
- 2nd Forum of Young Researchers on Heterogeneous Catalysis, 2024, Szeged, Hungary
- 15th Pannonian International Symposium on Catalysis, 2022, Jastrzebia Góra, Poland
- 1st Forum of Young Researchers on Heterogeneous Catalysis, 2022, Szeged, Hungary
- 48th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering SSCHE 2022 and membrane conference of Visegrad countries PERMEA, 2022, Poprad, Slovakia
- Műszaki Kémiai Nap'21, 2021, Veszprém, Hungary
- XIV Szent-Győrgy Albert Conference, 2021, Budapest, Hungary
- 2nd International Conference on Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, 2021, Budapest, Hungary
Scientific Publications
- Composites of Titanium-Molybdenum Mixed Oxides and Non-Traditional Carbon Materials: Innovative Supports for Platinum Electrocatalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells, Nanomaterials, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14121053
- Structure - Catalytic Behavior Relationships in TiO2-Carbon Composite Supported Pt Electrocatalysts: A Case Study, Analytical Letters, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2024.2351589
- Nitrogen doped carbonaceous materials as platinum free cathode electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-022-02331-6
- Electrocatalytic Properties of Mixed-Oxide-Containing Composite-Supported Platinum for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells, Materials Basel, 2022, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103671
- Preparation of Pt electrocatalyst supported by novel, Ti(1-x)MoxO2-C type of composites containing multi-layer graphene, Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-021-02138-x
- Synthesis and Characterization of Graphite Oxide Derived TiO2-Carbon Composites as Potential Electrocatalyst Supports, Topics in Catalysis, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-021-01513-1
- Investigation of Ti-Mo mixed oxide-carbon composite supported Pt electrocatalysts: Effect of the type of carbonaceous materials, Applied Catalysis A: General, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2021.118155
- Functionalized Carbon Nanostructures for PEMFCs, Handbook of Functional Carbon Nanostructures from Synthesis Methods to Applications, A. Barhoum, K. Deshmukh, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14955-9_76-1
Timeline
Laboratory Instructor - Budapest University of Technology and Economics
09.2021 - 03.2024
Budapest University of Technology and Economics - PhD, Chemical Engineering
01.2020 - 01.2024
Research Fellow - HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences
10.2019 - Current
Chemical Engineer Intern - SOCAR Polymer
07.2018 - 08.2018
Budapest University of Technology and Economics - MSc, Chemical Engineering
01.2018 - 01.2020
Baku Engineering University - BSc, Chemical Engineering
01.2013 - 01.2018