Our Research
Our research spans multiple areas in the chemistry and engineering of energy materials with an emphasis on electrochemical CO2 conversion. For electrochemical CO2 conversion, our research has a particular focus on understanding and tuning the local (micro)environment to gain a rational understanding of strategies to improve catalytic selectivity and activity.
To this end, our research explores new developments in:
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Fundamental Understanding of the CO2RR (Micro) environment
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New Materials to Tune the Local CO2RR
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Bicarbonate reduction to valorize CO2
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Molten salt electrolytes for CO2RR to Carbon Nanomaterials
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Bioelectrochemical Systems
Model Systems and Fundamental Understanding for Improving the Microenvironment in Electrochemical CO2 Conversion
In electrochemical CO2 conversion, the microenvironment around the catalyst entails a wide range of factors that include the transport of important species, local availability of CO2 and CO, as well as local pH. Fundamental understanding and design rules for the microenvironment are critical for developing strategies to improve electrochemical CO2 conversion.
Bicarbonate Reduction to Achieve Electrochemical CO2 Conversion
Instead of CO2, the bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) can be used as a feedstock for electrochemical CO2 conversion. This approach is proposed to be a useful way to link CO2 capture and conversion steps. However, it introduces new challenges in terms of different microenvironment effects and new engineering considerations for achieving high activity and selectivity. This is a rich area that we are currently exploring. Notably, this reaction does not entail the stabilization of a persistent interface with CO2 gas, which may open up new prospects for achieving a high stability.
Development of Hybrid Bio-Electrocatalytic Systems
In principle, electrochemical systems can produce products with high current density, yet for some reactions that would be important for new sustainable technologies, achieving selectivity and activity remains challenging. This is particularly true for reactions such as CO2 and N2 reduction. In contrast, biological systems can have high selectivity for these challenging reactions. We seek to develop hybrid systems to achieve the best-of-both-worlds where biotic and abiotic components can be paired.
Development of New Ionomer Materials for CO2RR
For electrochemical CO2 conversion, a previous design rule was that hydrophobic ionomers are greatly beneficial for regulating the local concentration of H2O molecules to limit competitive hydrogen evolution. We have recently shown that routes exist to develop new ionomer materials (even hydrophilic ones) tailored to the CO2RR microenvironment for improved selectivity.
CO2 Reduction in Molten Salt Electrolytes
This project explores how CO2 can be electrochemically converted at high temperatures in molten salt electrolyte systems. This approach avoids potential competition with hydrogen evolution and potentially offers new avenues to address persistent challenges in electrochemical CO2 conversion in ambient conditions.
