UCC sustainability leadership highlighted at the 249th Electrochemical Society Meeting

22 Jul 2026

The 249th Meeting of The Electrochemical Society brought researchers from 62 countries to Seattle under the theme “Sustainable Technologies”, highlighting the essential contribution of electrochemistry and materials science to clean energy, decarbonisation, resource efficiency and a circular economy.

University College Cork’s international leadership in sustainable materials, electrochemistry and energy technologies was represented at the 249th Meeting of The Electrochemical Society, held in Seattle, USA, from 24–28 May 2026.

The meeting’s theme, Sustainable Technologies, placed sustainability at the centre of discussions across electrochemistry and solid-state science. Researchers from academia, industry and government presented advances addressing clean energy, decarbonisation, circular materials, climate-resilient systems and the more efficient use of critical resources.

The scale of the meeting reflected the rapidly growing importance of these fields. The programme comprised 47 symposia and 358 scientific sessions, drawing 2,793 abstracts from 62 countries. These included 2,250 oral presentations, 543 poster presentations and 524 invited lectures. Students contributed more than 1,000 abstracts, demonstrating the strong pipeline of early-career researchers developing the technologies needed for a more sustainable future.

UCC contributing to the international scientific programme

Professor Colm O’Dwyer, Professor of Chemical Energy in UCC’s School of Chemistry and a member of the UCC Sustainability Institute, contributed to the scientific organisation of the meeting including a symposium on Electrodeposition for Semiconductor Applications, bringing researchers from around the world together to showcase the latest advancements in sustainable electrochemical methods for producing semiconductor films, nanostructures, porous materials and components for advanced manufacturing.

Professor O’Dwyer served as the 122nd President of The Electrochemical Society from 2024–2025 and currently serves as Past-President and a member of its Board of Directors. He was also elected a Fellow of The Electrochemical Society in recognition of his contributions to electrochemistry, solid-state science and sustained service to the international scientific community.

Professor O’Dwyer commented, “The breadth of research presented at the 249th ECS Meeting demonstrated that sustainability is now integral to electrochemistry, materials science and advanced technology manufacturing. From batteries and green hydrogen to semiconductor processing, sensors and materials recovery, researchers are developing solutions that can reduce emissions, use resources more efficiently and enable genuinely circular technologies. International scientific collaboration through organisations such as ECS is essential if these advances are to move rapidly from fundamental discovery to societal and industrial impact.”

Science supporting a sustainable future

Research presented at the 249^th ECS Meeting covered the full innovation pathway, from the fundamental behaviour of materials and electrochemical interfaces to manufacturing, device development, recycling and systems-level implementation. Energy storage, fuel cells, electrolysers, hydrogen technologies, low-carbon manufacturing, sustainable electronics, sensing and environmental remediation featured prominently across the programme.

These priorities align closely with the work of the UCC Sustainability Institute, which combines expertise in energy, materials, environment, marine and agri-food research to address the interconnected challenges of climate action, the circular economy and a healthy environment. The Institute brings together more than 400 researchers from 20 academic disciplines, supporting collaboration between researchers, industry, policymakers and communities.

UCC’s participation in the 249th ECS Meeting strengthens international research networks and raises the global visibility of the University’s work in sustainable materials and energy technologies. It also provides opportunities to build new collaborations capable of translating scientific excellence into practical technologies, manufacturing approaches and policy-relevant solutions for Ireland and the wider international community.