Understanding the Molecular Structure and Electrocatalytic Activities at Ionic Liquid-Metal Interfaces
Abstract
Electrochemical energy conversion and storage is critical for fulfilling U.S. Air Force s high demand in fuels and energy. While electrochemical processes occur mainly at the interface between solid electrodes and liquid electrolytes, to date the interfacial structure remains elusive, due to a lack of tools to directly probe the molecular species on or near the electrodes. To address this long-standing challenge, we propose to use a multi-modal approach to characterize the 3D molecular structure and reactions at electrode-electrolyte interfaces, including our recently developed atomic-resolution imaging technique – electrochemical 3D atomic force microscopy (EC-3D-AFM), interface-sensitive Raman spectroscopies, and an integrated experiment-theory method where EC-3D-AFM images are used to improve the accuracy of molecular dynamics simulations. We will study carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), which is important both for mitigating climate change and for producing value-added chemical fuels. However, existing electrochemical systems for CO2RR have achieved limited efficiency due to a lack of control of the complicated reaction pathways. We will choose metal catalyst electrodes with varying surface structure and a series of ionic liquid-based electrolytes with different composition, and determine the critical molecular configurations at the electrode-electrolyte interfaces and their relation to the CO2RR kinetics. The anticipated outcomes and potential impacts are- 1) a molecular description-theory of solvation structures at solid-liquid interfaces, which is a core concept in electrochemistry and surface science; 2) a molecular level understanding of the synergistic role of electrode and solvation structures in electrocatalysis; and 3) predictive design of novel molecular electrolyte systems to enable efficient and selective CO2RR. These scientific advancements will be crucial for improving the energy sustainability, efficiency, resilience, and security of the U.S. Air Force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502210014
Entities
People
- Yingjie Zhang
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign