Prof. Dr. Lindiwe Khotseng | Sustainable Energy| Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Lindiwe Khotseng is a distinguished materials chemist and researcher whose work centers on nanomaterials for energy storage, fuel cells, and sustainable energy technologies. Serving as a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Western Cape, within the Faculty of Natural Science, they have made significant contributions to the fields of electrocatalysis, electrochemistry, and photoelectrochemistry, with a strong focus on converting biomass into bioenergy and developing advanced nanocatalysts for green technologies. Their academic journey has been marked by leadership roles, including tenure as Managing Director and Research Officer at the ESKOM Centre for Electrocatalytic Research, under the South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry (SAIAMC), where they spearheaded pioneering work in energy conversion and materials innovation. Their research portfolio spans extensive collaborations and funded projects addressing waste valorization, sustainable fuel cell development, and catalytic transformation of biomass into valuable fuels and chemicals. With expertise bridging surface science, heterogeneous catalysis, and advanced oxidation processes, they have developed cutting-edge materials that enhance energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. As a grant holder and co-principal investigator in multiple national and international initiatives, including Erasmus+, NRF, and BRICS consortiums, they have championed interdisciplinary research integrating chemistry, materials science, and renewable energy. Their impactful work on nanostructured materials, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, and sodium-based energy storage systems continues to drive advancements in clean energy research and sustainable chemical processes, positioning them as a leading figure in materials innovation and renewable energy transformation.