Hassan Nagra

Hassan Nagra is a Postdoctoral Researcher (Research Fellow) at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Leiden University. His research focuses on electrocatalysis, particularly in the development and characterization of alloy electrocatalysts for fuel cell applications. He is part of the Catalysis and Surface Chemistry group within the Fundamental Research in Energy & Sustainability division.

Dr. Nagra's research interests center on electrocatalysis, with a focus on alloy electrocatalysts such as platinum-nickel for the oxygen reduction reaction. He employs advanced characterization techniques including x-ray absorption spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and other x-ray spectroscopy methods to study the structural and electronic properties of catalysts under operating conditions. His work aims to understand catalyst degradation mechanisms and improve the efficiency and durability of fuel cells.

His recent publications (2022 and 2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on the structural characterization of platinum-based alloy electrocatalysts using in-situ and operando x-ray spectroscopy. The research explores how the catalyst structure evolves under electrochemical potential, particularly during fuel cell start-up and operation, and how these changes impact catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. This work bridges materials science and electrochemistry to design more robust fuel cell catalysts.

Dr. Nagra is a member of the Catalysis and Surface Chemistry research team within the Fundamental Research in Energy & Sustainability division at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry. This group focuses on developing and characterizing novel catalytic materials for sustainable energy applications.