Zouhair Lakbaibi | Chemistry | Editorial Board Member

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Prof. Dr. Zouhair Lakbaibi | Chemistry | Editorial Board Member 

Ful Professor | Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry Materials and Environment; Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador; Mohamed First University | Morocco

Zouhair Lakbaibi is a distinguished Professor in the Chemistry Department at Mohamed First University, Multidisciplinary Faculty, Nador, Morocco, with a prolific research career focused on corrosion inhibition, green chemistry, and computational chemistry. He has contributed extensively to the understanding of the interactions between chemical compounds and metal surfaces, particularly in acidic environments, using both experimental and theoretical approaches. His work spans the study of hydrazine derivatives, perillaldehyde from essential oils, and other bioactive compounds as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for mild and carbon steel, combining electrochemical analyses, adsorption behavior studies, and quantum chemical modeling. In addition, Lakbaibi has investigated the degradation of synthetic dyes via Fenton reactions and studied the adsorption and removal of heavy metal ions, including cadmium and copper, employing both experimental designs and computational simulations such as Monte Carlo and factorial analysis. His research demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary focus, integrating chemistry, environmental science, and materials science, and has been published in reputable journals like Heliyon, Chemical Papers, ACS Omega, and the Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention. His investigations also encompass tribological behaviors of metals in corrosive media, solvent effects in chemical reactions, and theoretical studies on reaction mechanisms and selectivity, including DFT and ELF approaches. Over the years, Lakbaibi has collaborated with numerous researchers across Morocco and internationally, emphasizing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions in chemical processes. With 17 documented publications, his work highlights innovative approaches to corrosion prevention, adsorption technologies, and mechanistic studies of organic reactions, bridging theoretical and practical chemistry applications while contributing significantly to the scientific community through both experimental insights and computational modeling.

Profiles: ORCID | Scopus

Featured Publications

  1. Lakbaibi, Z., Damej, M., Molhi, A., Benmessaoud, M., Tighadouini, S., Jaafar, A., Benabbouha, T., Ansari, A., Driouich, A., & Tabyaoui, M. (2022). Evaluation of inhibitive corrosion potential of symmetrical hydrazine derivatives containing nitrophenyl moiety in 1M HCl for C38 steel: Experimental and theoretical studies. Heliyon, 8, e09087.

  2. Ansari, A., Lakbaibi, Z., Znini, M., & Manssouri, M. (2021). Evaluation of corrosion inhibition and adsorption behavior of 7-Isopropyl-4-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzoisoxazole against carbon steel corrosion in 1 M HCl: Experimental and computational investigations. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Research, 8(3), 233677.

  3. Manssouri, M., Znini, M., Lakbaibi, Z., Ansari, A., & El Ouadi, Y. (2021). Experimental and computational studies of perillaldehyde isolated from Ammodaucus leucotrichus essential oil as a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1.0 M HCl. Chemical Papers, 75, 4145–4162.

  4. Jaafar, A., Ben El Ayouchia, H., Lakbaibi, Z., Regti, A., Jaafar, N., Boussaoud, A., Benallou, A., & Jodeh, S. (2021). Fenton degradation of binary synthetic dyes mixture: Experimental and DFT studies. Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment, 25, 1–12.

  5. Regti, A., Lakbaibi, Z., Ben Elayouchia, H., El Haddad, M., Laamari, M. R., Jaafar, A., Elazhary, I., & El Himri, M. (2021). Optimization and computational approach to understand the adsorption behavior of alizarine red s on the surface of fish scales. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 11(6), 14918–14934.

Zouhair Lakbaibi’s research advances sustainable chemistry by developing eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors and efficient heavy-metal remediation methods, bridging theoretical modeling and experimental studies. His work supports industry, environmental protection, and global innovation by offering practical solutions for metal preservation and pollution control.

Ulf-Peter Apfel | Chemistry | Editorial Board Member

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Prof. Dr. Ulf-Peter Apfel | Chemistry | Editorial Board Member 

Professor | Ruhr University Bochum & Fraunhofer UMSICHT | Germany

Ulf-Peter Apfel is a leading figure in modern electrocatalysis and renewable energy chemistry, with a research career defined by major contributions to bio-inspired catalysis, hydrogen evolution, CO₂ reduction, and sustainable energy conversion. With over 8,300 citations, an h-index of 53, and more than 136 peer-reviewed publications, his work demonstrates both exceptional productivity and enduring scientific impact. His research bridges fundamental inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry with applied electrochemical energy technologies, particularly through the design of molecular and heterogeneous electrocatalysts inspired by natural metalloenzymes such as [FeFe]-hydrogenases. His highly cited studies in journals like Angewandte Chemie, Nature Communications, Chemical Society Reviews, and ACS Catalysis have shaped global understanding of hydrogen generation, oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, and carbon dioxide electroreduction. Notably, his work on enzyme-inspired iron porphyrins, pentlandite-based electrocatalysts, cobalt and manganese corrole complexes, and metal–organic framework supported catalysts has established new benchmarks for efficiency, selectivity, and sustainability in electrocatalysis. His interdisciplinary collaborations span spectroscopy, protein crystallography, materials science, and industrial chemistry, reflecting the broad translational relevance of his research. Beyond laboratory innovation, his scholarship also addresses the critical challenge of scaling fundamental discoveries toward real-world energy applications, as reflected in his influential work on bridging the “valley of death” between basic research and applied electrolysis. As a professor at Ruhr University Bochum and head of electrosynthesis at Fraunhofer UMSICHT, he plays a central role in shaping future directions in green hydrogen, artificial photosynthesis, and carbon-neutral fuel production. Overall, his career represents a powerful integration of molecular design, mechanistic insight, and technological relevance, positioning him as one of the most influential scientists in contemporary renewable energy and electrocatalysis research.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  1. Xie, L., Zhang, X. P., Zhao, B., Li, P., Qi, J., Guo, X., Wang, B., Lei, H., & Zhang, W. (2021). Enzyme-inspired iron porphyrins for improved electrocatalytic oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Angewandte Chemie, 133(14), 7654–7659.

  2. Kleinhaus, J. T., Wittkamp, F., Yadav, S., Siegmund, D., & Apfel, U.-P. (2021). [FeFe]-hydrogenases: Maturation and reactivity of enzymatic systems and overview of biomimetic models. Chemical Society Reviews, 50(3), 1668–1784.

  3. Liang, Z., Guo, H., Zhou, G., Guo, K., Wang, B., Lei, H., Zhang, W., & Zheng, H. (2021). Metal–organic-framework-supported molecular electrocatalysis for the oxygen reduction reaction. Angewandte Chemie, 133(15), 8553–8557.

  4. Konkena, B., Junge Puring, K., Sinev, I., Piontek, S., Khavryuchenko, O., Dürholt, J. P., Schökel, A., Schuhmann, W., Muhler, M., & Apfel, U.-P. (2016). Pentlandite rocks as sustainable and stable efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen generation. Nature Communications, 7(1), 12269.

  5. Gonglach, S., Paul, S., Haas, M., Pillwein, F., Sreejith, S. S., Barman, S., De, R., Müllegger, S., Apfel, U.-P., & Köller, S. (2019). Molecular cobalt corrole complex for the heterogeneous electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. Nature Communications, 10(1), 3864.

Ulf-Peter Apfel’s research advances the frontiers of bio-inspired electrocatalysis and sustainable energy conversion, delivering transformative solutions for green hydrogen production and CO₂ utilization. His work directly accelerates the global transition toward carbon-neutral energy technologies by bridging fundamental chemistry with scalable industrial applications.