Dr. Arianne Maine, an ANID postdoctoral researcher at Usach’s SMAT-C center, won the Best Poster Award for her work on rhenium nanoparticles to optimize catalytic processes in energy generation. Her research paves the way for more efficient, cost-effective green hydrogen production, driving Chile’s technological advancement in clean energy.
Featured among more than 60 projects at the National Nanotechnology Congress in La Serena, Dr. Maine’s study—“Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Metallic Rhenium Nanoparticles Obtained in a Controlled Atmosphere”—won the Best Poster Award, highlighting Usach’s leadership in advanced materials and clean energy research.
At the heart of this research lies one of today’s biggest energy challenges: efficient hydrogen production. “Although hydrogen is a key driver in the transition to clean energy, producing it is complex,” explains Dr. Maine. “Because it doesn't exist freely in nature, it must be extracted from compounds like water through processes that demand high amounts of energy.”
As a crucial first step, the study focuses on engineering nanoscale materials—structures engineered at the atomic scale—with tailored chemical properties designed to boost performance and efficiency in energy generation processes.
Specifically, the rhenium nanoparticles act as catalysts—accelerating chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. As a rare transition metal produced as a byproduct of copper mining, rhenium possesses unique chemical properties that speed up reactions while reducing energy demands, a critical advantage for scaling up efficient hydrogen production.
“Our goal is to fine-tune the material at the chemical level so it operates at peak efficiency, lowering the energy required for hydrogen generation,” explained Dr. Arianne Maine. “By reducing one of the main cost bottlenecks, rhenium emerges as a promising alternative to optimize these processes and advance scalable, next-generation hydrogen technologies.”
Contribution to the Energy Transition
This breakthrough marks the first major milestone of Dr. Maine’s ANID postdoctoral research (Fondecyt Postdoctoral Project No. 3240353). The initiative is focused on engineering advanced catalysts to boost energy efficiency and drive down costs in next-generation power generation.
Dr. Maine notes that her research is driven by the urgent need for a transition toward sustainable power. “I realized there is a critical environmental crisis linked to traditional energy sources, particularly their role in climate change,” she explained. “That motivated me to search for cleaner, more efficient alternatives for energy generation.”
From this perspective, the research stands as a cornerstone of the energy transition, leveraging strategic national resources like rhenium. “If we develop technologies based on materials available in the country, we can contribute not only at the national level but also at the global level,” Dr. Maine emphasized.
The next step will be to evaluate the behavior of the nanoparticles through electrochemical studies, to determine their electrocatalytic capacity—that is, how efficient the material is at accelerating chemical reactions in electrical processes. As Dr. Maine explained, "Depending on the results, we will be able to determine whether these nanoparticles are a viable alternative or whether their synthesis needs to be adjusted."
She concluded by noting that “developments like this not only contribute to scientific progress but also open up opportunities for collaboration with technology-based companies, facilitating the transfer of knowledge toward concrete energy solutions. Thus, this research is positioned as a contribution to the challenge of the energy transition, promoting the development of sustainable technologies based on strategic resources available in Chile.”