From Ignorance to Insight: My Journey into Piezocatalysis

The Unexpected Call to Collaborate

Piezocatalysis – my new favorite word. It all started when a close friend from my master’s program, an experimentalist, approached me for a collaboration. The project was titled “Piezocatalytic Hydrogen Production.” Her idea was to strengthen the paper by combining experimental results with theoretical calculations.

At first glance, I wasn’t sure how much I could contribute. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was entirely new territory for me. My expertise had always been in magnetic properties, and now I was being asked to explore something completely different.

And then there was piezocatalysis. I was familiar with piezoelectricity, and I’d heard of catalysis, but I’d never thought the two could intersect. Feeling unsure, I decided to stick to what I knew: performing electronic structure calculations to complement her experimental results. What else could I do when I didn’t even fully understand the title?

First Submission: A Lesson in Humility

I wrote my part, and we submitted the paper to a high-impact journal. Since this was new territory for me, I wasn’t confident in the quality of the work. But my friend believed in it and encouraged me to aim high.

To our surprise, the paper went through review. Unfortunately, the reviewers rejected it. There were some comments on the experimental work, but one piece of feedback hit close to home: “There is no calculation related to piezocatalysis.”

My friend was understandably disappointed. I wasn’t as shaken—I hadn’t been confident about the work to begin with.

Second Submission: A Wake-Up Call

We decided to try another high-impact journal. This time, the reviewers were more encouraging, but they still questioned the theoretical contribution to piezocatalysis.

That’s when it struck me: my lack of understanding was holding the paper back. I couldn’t let ignorance be the reason for failure. I had to dive into this new topic and learn everything I could.

Learning the Ropes of Piezocatalysis

For those unfamiliar with the concept, piezoelectric materials have electric properties that change under applied stress. But how could this be linked to hydrogen production? It felt like trying to connect two distant dots.

Determined to make sense of it, I spent an entire week doing nothing but reading papers on piezocatalysis. Slowly but surely, the pieces began to fit together. I started to understand the mechanisms and the type of calculations required to make meaningful theoretical contributions.

Redemption: A Paper to Be Proud Of

Armed with this newfound knowledge, I revisited the calculations, applied what I’d learned, and completely rewrote the theory section. This time, the paper felt solid, and I was proud of my contribution.

When we submitted the revised paper, I felt a sense of accomplishment that was missing the first time. Now I am super happy that it got published. I owe a lot to my friend for giving me the opportunity and to the reviewers whose feedback pushed me to grow.

A New Fascination

This experience has been a turning point in my research journey. Not only am I proud of this paper, but I’ve also discovered a new area of interest. Piezocatalysis has captured my imagination, and I’m eager to explore it further. I already have ideas for one or two more papers in this field, and I can’t wait to see where this path takes me.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s the value of stepping out of your comfort zone. Theoretical physics may seem far removed from some experimental concepts, but with curiosity and persistence, connections can be made.

 

Have you ever ventured into a completely new research area? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below. Let’s keep learning and growing together!