Faces of innovation: Irene Dei Tos
Behind every breakthrough is a dedicated researcher pushing the boundaries of knowledge. In our Faces of Innovation series, we put the spotlight on our PhD students as they reach the home stretch of their research. With her doctoral defense right around the corner, meet Irene Dei Tos!
How do you explain your PhD defense to an outsider?
"My PhD explores how we can use sunlight not only to generate electricity, but also to produce fuels and valuable chemicals (named for this reason solar fuels). In my research work, I investigated a material called antimony trisulfide, which is capable of absorbing sunlight and generating electrical charges. These in turns are responsible of driving a chemical reaction. Absorbing light is only the first step: the as-generated electrical charges must travel through the device and reach the right places to trigger a chemical reactions, without being lost along the way. My research focused on understanding how to prepare this material, how the charges behave, and how to combine it with other materials to improve the performance of solar-driven devices. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute to technologies that could help produce fuels and chemicals by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels."
IUMAT takes a highly interdisciplinary approach. How has this changed your perspective on materials technology?
"My PhD has shown me that developing a functional device requires much more than optimising a single material. A good example is the solar tandem device I worked on, which required me to develop and optimise the light-absorbing semiconductor and create the full-device, while bringing together expertise from many different fields. Some colleagues investigated how electrical charges move through the materials using advanced characterization techniques. Others focused on the chemical reactions taking place in the device, protective coatings to prevent degradation in the electrolyte, or catalysts to improve reaction rates. Other expertise, including techno-economic analysis are essential to understanding the economic potential of these technologies.
Working in this collaborative environment has been one of the most enriching aspects of my PhD. It has taught me to approach scientific challenges from different perspectives. It introduced me to techniques and concepts beyond my original area of expertise, and shown me how different contributions can come together to solve a complex problem. Equally valuable has been the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with senior colleagues, learning from their perspectives and engaging in brainstorming with them. I believe interdisciplinarity and collaboration will be invaluable throughout my future career."
EUREKA moment: what was the absolute highlight of the past few years?
"One of the absolute highlights of my PhD is the opportunity, offered by my faculty and supervisors, to carry out a substantial part of my research abroad, at outstanding research institutions. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity as it has strengthened my academic profile, while also allowing me to experience different research cultures and ways of approaching challenges.
These experiences have been incredibly rewarding on a personal level. Living and working in different international environments allowed me to meet inspiring people, build meaningful connections and grow beyond my comfort zone. Looking back, I feel that these opportunities have shaped the person I am today."
Where do you hope your research will be in 7 years? What impact will this have on everyday life?
"In seven years, I hope that research on solar fuels and chemicals will have made progress towards practical application. Nowadays, initiatives sponsored by European Commission such as SUN2X-SET are an encouraging step in this direction. For instance, a workshop held last October brought together researchers, industry and policymakers to help develop a roadmap for solar fuels technologies.
Important challenges remain, particularly in improving devices' efficiency, operational durability and scalability. I hope my research will contribute to solving these hurdles, especially by providing a research approach and practical advancements.
In the long term, solar fuels technologies could help reduce our reliance on fossil resources through the generation of green fuels and chemicals. For example, in the tandem device investigated in my PhD, sunlight drives the coupled production of hydrogen and iodine. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel or a raw material for producing ammonia, a key ingredient in fertilizers. Iodine is used in applications ranging from medical imaging to pharmaceuticals and disinfectants. This illustrates how solar energy could help produce both the fuels and the chemicals that modern society depends on, using a more sustainable approach."
On Tuesday, 24 November 2026, Irene her doctoral defense will take place. Eager to learn more about her research?
- Tuesday, 24 November 2026, 4 p.m
- Refugiehuis, Campus Hasselt