Debajeet K Bora

Debajeet K Bora, PhD, HDR

Industrial R&D Leadership | Green Hydrogen & Electrolyzer Technology

debajeet1@outlook.com
+212 613 169 413
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Summary

A results-driven R&D Leader with 15+ years of expertise in scaling green hydrogen technologies. Proven success in leading projects from lab-scale R&D to industrial pilot plant demonstrations (20 kW). Expert in alkaline electrolyzer systems, electrocatalyst development, and securing substantial research funding ($825K+).

Core Competencies

  • R&D Leadership

    Strategy, Project Management, Grant Writing, Team Supervision, Technology Transfer

  • Electrolyzer Systems

    Alkaline & AEM Electrolyzers, System Design & Scale-Up, Pilot Plant Operations

  • Materials Science

    Electrocatalyst Synthesis (LDH, Phosphides), Nanostructuring, Operando Characterization

  • Industrial Application

    PV Integration, Seawater Splitting, Green Ammonia Production, Fuel Cells (PAFC)

Education

  • Habilitation (HDR)

    UM6P, Morocco | 2023

  • Ph.D. Nanosciences

    U. of Basel, Switzerland | 2012

  • M.Sc. Nanoscience

    Tezpur U., India | 2007

Industrial & Pilot-Scale Experience

Assistant Professor HDR / Project Lead

2021 – Present

UM6P & Green Energy Park, Morocco

  • 20 kW Alkaline Electrolyzer Pilot Plant: Directed the first successful demonstration of a PV-coupled 20 kW McPhy pressurized alkaline electrolyzer, establishing a key micro-pilot for green hydrogen in Morocco.
  • Industrial Fundraising: Contributed to securing a $125M green energy transition program for OCP Group with the IFC and World Bank, focusing on electrolyzer integration.
  • Steering Committee (Green Ammonia): Member of the steering committee for a 60M Euro Green Ammonia Pilot Plant (GAPP) project.
  • R&D Grant Acquisition: Secured $700K as PI for an ENSUS core research grant and a 500K USD UM6P start grant for electrolyzer and electrocatalyst R&D.
  • Technology Development: Led development of innovative AEM electrolyzers and advanced electrocatalysts (LDH, metal phosphides) for seawater splitting.

Scientist / Postdoc

2012 – 2017

ETH Zürich, Empa (Swiss Labs), Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (USA)

  • Advanced Electrocatalysts: Designed highly stable electrocatalysts for industrial water splitting applications.
  • Operando Analysis: Developed and commissioned a UHV electrochemical flow cell for in-situ synchrotron analysis of electrolyzer processes at LBNL.
  • Materials Durability: Investigated photostability in bismuth vanadate to inform the design of durable industrial materials.
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Academic & Research Experience

Assistant Professor

2017 – 2021

Jain University, Bangalore, India

  • Pioneered one-pot synthesis of pyramidal hematite nanoarchitectures for PEC water splitting.

PhD Student

2009 – 2012

Empa (Swiss Labs) & University of Basel, Switzerland

  • Established an efficient processing route for nanostructured hematite thin films with enhanced photocurrent density.

Key Publications & Honors

  • Publication Record: 48 peer-reviewed papers, H-index of 20, 1570+ citations.
  • Editorial Board: Scientific Reports, Springer Nature.
  • Key Paper: “In Rust We Trust: Hematite – the prospective inorganic backbone for artificial photosynthesis,” Energ. Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 407-425.
  • Award: EMPA Research Award 2013 for outstanding Ph.D. thesis (5000 CHF).
  • Ranking: Top 3% Scientist in Nanoscience (AD Scientific Index).

Selected Research Funding Acquired

  • Principal Investigator: ENSUS CORE GRANT - $700K USD (2021-2025)
  • Principal Investigator: Research Start Grant, UM6P - $500K USD (2021-2027)
  • Co-Principal Investigator: CHAIR NRG Science and Technology - 30M Euro (2024-2029)
  • Co-Principal Investigator: Green Ammonia Vision Project - 1.5M Euro (2025-2030)
  • Co-Principal Investigator: BFE - Swiss Federal Office of Energy Grant - 621K CHF (2017-2020)
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