Research Group · Mohammed V University, Rabat

FUNMeC

Functional Materials for Energy Conversion: photocatalysis, photoelectrochemistry and electrocatalysis for clean energy and the environment.

News

Oct 23, 2026

Impact Seminar

IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi: energy materials and CO₂ reduction

Talk

Oct 14, 2026

Plenary Lecture

ACSD 2026, 6th International Conference of Analytical Chemistry for Sustainable Development

Talk

Jun 14, 2026

Keynote, ICMES 2026

International Conference on Materials and Environmental Science

Talk

2026

Chem. Eng. J. 527

Nickel MOF derivatives for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Published

About us

FUNMeC is led by Prof. Hassan Ait Ahsaine at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. We design and study functional materials, including vanadates, MXenes, metal-organic frameworks and porphyrins, for photocatalysis, photoelectrochemical water splitting, hydrogen evolution and CO₂ reduction.

Principal Investigator

Prof. Hassan Ait Ahsaine

Principal Investigator

Materials Chemistry

h.aitahsaine@um5r.ac.ma

Current members

Sanaa Essalmi

PhD Student

sanaa_essalmi@um5.ac.ma

Mourad El Hanafi

PhD Student

morad_elhanafi@um5.ac.ma

Aicha El Aouni

PhD Student

aicha.elaouni@um5r.ac.ma

Alumni

Dr. Mohamed Elouardi

Alumnus

Now: Postdoc in France

Dr. Safia Lotfi

Alumna

Now: Administrator

Awards and recognition

2023–2026: Listed among the world’s Top 2% scientists, four consecutive years
2015: IUCr Young Scientist Award Scholarship (International Union of Crystallography)
2015: Ibn Zohr University Prize for Scientific Research
2015: Best oral communication, International Symposium “Water, Recycling and Valorisation of ERVD3 waste”, Fès

Research

Photocatalysis

Vanadate and BiVO₄-based photocatalysts for the degradation of dyes and pollutants.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting

Nanostructured oxide photoelectrodes and the role of oxygen vacancies and sacrificial agents.

Electrocatalysis

MXenes and nickel MOF derivatives for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

CO₂ reduction

Molecular catalysts such as iron porphyrins for selective electrochemical CO₂ reduction.

Publications

Selected publications

Tailoring electrocatalytic performance of nickel metal-organic framework derivatives for hydrogen evolution reaction.

M. El Hanafi, J. Bau, N. Khossossi, A. BaQais, H. Haspel, Z. Kónya, M. Saadi, M. Rueping, H. Ait Ahsaine.

Chem. Eng. J. 527 (2026) 171757 IF 12.5

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.171757

Graphical abstract: Tailoring electrocatalytic performance of nickel metal-organ

Vanadate-based photocatalytic materials: a perspective on synthesis approaches and pollutants photocatalytic degradation.

M. Arab, M. Saadi, A. BaQais, H. Ait Ahsaine.

Nano Mater. Sci. 8 (2026) 779–800 IF 20.5

DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoms.2024.11.002

Graphical abstract: Vanadate-based photocatalytic materials: a perspective on sy

Recent progress on the synthesis, morphology and photocatalytic dye degradation of BiVO₄ photocatalysts: a review.

S. Lotfi, M. El Ouardi, H. Ait Ahsaine, A. Assani.

Catal. Rev. 66 (2024) 214–258 IF 20.21

DOI: 10.1080/01614940.2022.2057044

Graphical abstract: Recent progress on the synthesis, morphology and photocataly

Review of photoelectrochemical water splitting: from quantitative approaches to effect of sacrificial agents, oxygen vacancies, thermal and magnetic field on (photo)electrolysis.

A. El Idrissi, M. Arab, M. Zbair, H. Haspel, M. Saadi, H. Ait Ahsaine.

Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 51 (2024) 1044–1067 IF 9.2

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.09.111

Graphical abstract: Review of photoelectrochemical water splitting: from quantit

Synthesis of ZnV₂O₆ nanosheet photocatalysts for efficient photodegradation of Rhodamine B: experimental and RSM modeling.

M. El Ouardi, V. Madigou, V. Chevallier, A. Merlen, A. BaQais, M. Saadi, H. Ait Ahsaine, M. Arab.

J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 12 (2024) 113505 IF 7.5

DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2024.113505

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of ZnV₂O₆ nanosheet photocatalysts for efficient p

Integrated photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradation of organic dyes over CuV₂O₆: mechanistic insights and RSM-based optimization.

M. El Ouardi, Y. Elaadssi, V. Madigou, V. Chevallier, H. Haspel, A. BaQais, M. Saadi, H. Ait Ahsaine, M. Arab.

Adv. Sustain. Syst. 10 (2026) e70545 Wiley, IF 5.6

DOI: 10.1002/adsu.70545

Graphical abstract: Integrated photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic degradat

RSM-BBD optimization of room-temperature synthesized ZIF-8 for synergistic adsorption-photocatalysis of RhB.

S. Essalmi, V. Madigou, A. Jada, A. BaQais, M. Saadi, H. Ait Ahsaine, M. Arab.

RSC Adv. 15 (52) (2025) 44526–44540 RSC, IF 6.1

DOI: 10.1039/d5ra06068k

Graphical abstract: RSM-BBD optimization of room-temperature synthesized ZIF-8 f

Operando elucidation on the working state of immobilized fluorinated-iron porphyrin for selective aqueous electroreduction of CO₂ to CO.

X. Lu, H. Ait Ahsaine, B. Dereli, A. T. Garcia-Esparza, M. Reinhard, T. Shinagawa, D. Li, A. Karim, M. R. Tchalala, T. Kroll, M. Eddaoudi, D. Sokaras, L. Cavallo, K. Takanabe.

ACS Catal. 11 (11) (2021) 6499–6509 ACS, IF 13.08

DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c01157

Graphical abstract: Operando elucidation on the working state of immobilized flu

Conferences

Oct 23, 2026: Impact Seminar, IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi, on energy materials and CO₂ reduction
Oct 14, 2026: Plenary Lecture, ACSD 2026, 6th International Conference of Analytical Chemistry for Sustainable Development
Jun 14, 2026: Keynote speaker, ICMES 2026, International Conference on Materials and Environmental Science
Dec 4, 2024: Keynote speaker, SEENERGY, 1st International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Electrochemistry
Jun 20, 2023: Keynote speaker, International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023), Rabat, Morocco