Overview
The Moreno-Hernandez lab is a multidisciplinary group focused on understanding electrochemical materials to advance renewable energy technologies and create a sustainable future. Their primary tool is liquid cell transmission electron microscopy, a technique that enables direct observations of the structural dynamics of materials in real time and at near-atomic resolution in a realistic liquid environment. They complement this technique with a wide set of analytical techniques and materials synthesis methods that enable the characterization and synthesis of materials with nanoscale precision. This combination enables systematic studies of the relationship between nanoscale structure and macroscale properties. In addition to their research efforts, the Moreno-Hernandez lab aims to create an inclusive environment that embraces the lived experiences of each group member and provides support for ongoing personal growth.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
The Eberts Family Assistant Professor of Chemistry
·
2026 - Present
Chemistry,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
·
2022 - Present
Chemistry,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Recent Scholarly Works
Activation of Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis via Reduced Ruthenium-Oxygen-Ruthenium Coordination.
Journal article Journal of the American Chemical Society · August 2026 Noble metal oxides such as RuO2 are the state-of-the-art electrocatalysts for anodic reactions in acidic electrolytes, but their scarcity and moderate activity greatly limit emerging renewable energy technologies. Here, we show that oxidized overlayers of ... Full text CiteLocal Structural Coherence and Interfacial Charge Transfer in Cu2S/MoS2 Heterostructure
Journal article Prx Energy · April 1, 2026 Precise control over electronic coupling at nanoscale interfaces is critical for designing materials with tunable charge-transfer behavior and catalytic function. Heterostructures with locally coherent interfaces provide a platform for interrogating interf ... Full text CiteDirect Observation of Collective Dissolution Mechanisms in Iridium Oxide Nanocrystals.
Journal article Journal of the American Chemical Society · February 2026 Iridium oxide (IrO2) is the state-of-the-art electrocatalyst for water oxidation in electrolyzers, yet it suffers from instability under operating conditions. Here, we combine first-principles modeling with in situ liquid-phase transmission elec ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
CAREER: Harnessing Chemistry and Disorder to Activate Oxygen Electrocatalysis
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2025 - 2029Collaborative Research: Linking Nanoscale Heterogeneities with Macroscale Reactivity of Electrocatalytic Materials
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2025 - 2028Direct Observation of Structural Dynamics at Single Nanocrystal Electrocatalyst/Polymer Electrolyte Interfaces with Liquid Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Chemical Society · 2025 - 2027View All Grants
Education
California Institute of Technology ·
2019
Ph.D.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln ·
2014
B.Sc.