The Eureka Prize for Young Inventor was awarded to Elitsa Petkucheva from BAS as co-author in the invention “Method of synthesis of electrode for application as electrocatalyst for the reaction of oxygen evolution”. The award was presented by the President of BAS Prof. Julian Revalski, Full Member of the Academy, at the award ceremony of the 2022 Eureka Prize winners. The ceremony took place on 31 January in the National Palace of Culture. The event was organized by the Eureka Foundation.
The invention concerns new catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction, methods for their production and potential application. The aim of the invention is to obtain new catalysts with excellent catalytic activity by using accessible materials and simple and inexpensive activation procedures. A promising alternative for energy storage is hydrogen, which is an environmentally friendly and flexible energy source. The decomposition of water provides a suitable mechanism for obtaining renewable energy in the form of chemical fuels and, more specifically, hydrogen and oxygen.
Sen. Asst. Prof. Dr. Elitsa Petkucheva is co-author of two more inventions – “Electrolysis cell for testing membrane electrode packages” and “Modular electrolysis cell for production of oxyhydrogen mixture”.
Since 2017 Elitsa Petkucheva is an assistant professor in the department “Hydrogen systems with polymer electrolyte” of the “Acad. Evgeni Budevski” Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems (IEES). She successfully defended her Ph.D. in the field of “Electrochemistry, including chemical sources of electricity” at IEES of BAS in 2018. She has participated in the development and implementation of 15 projects and grants funded by national and international research programmes. Elitsa Petkucheva has won more than 20 scientific awards from national and international conferences and competitions.
For excellent performance in the competition, with an honorary diploma is awarded Maria Todorova, who has defended a diploma thesis at the Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry at BAS (IOCCP) – co-author in five inventions registered as utility models with a significant share of participation (20-50%). The patented active components of snail mucus are included in new products that are available on the Bulgarian and international market.
The Eureka Prizes are awarded to young scientists for their significant achievements in science, for inventions of great public importance, for achievements in the management of business organisations, and for the highest results in the development of agricultural activities. Applicants must not be older than 35 years. They are nominated by public and business organisations, universities and scientific institutions, and the final selection is made by specialised committees in each field.
More information about the prize winners on the Eureka Foundation: https://www.evrika.org/
