A Tunable Laser System for Interfacial Electron Transfer Measurements in Reactive Gas/Liquid Systems
Abstract
Electrons are one of the most powerful chemical species, and electron-transfer chemistry forms the foundation of many technologies, ranging from batteries and catalysts to materials synthesis. In most cases, a metal mediates the reaction, where the electron transfer occurs between the metal and a solution species. However, our group uses a new approach to electrochemistry, where electrons are injected into the solution from the gas phase by forming a plasma (gas discharge) above the surface of the liquid. Unlike solid metal systems, the electrons injected from the plasma are unbounded and solvated in the solution, leading to a wide variety of chemical reactions. This approach to electrochemistry is non-local, as the solvated electrons can penetrate beneath the solution surface to induce reduction reactions. The ultimate goal of our work is control the reaction paths of plasma-solvated electrons in order to develop technologies for chemical synthesis and processing relevant to the Department of Defense. The aim of this research is to characterize the basic properties of plasma-solvated electrons including their structure, environment, and chemical behavior (reaction paths). The purpose of this DURIP is to purchase a tunable laser instrument that will be used for high fidelity measurements of the absorption spectrum of plasma-solvated electrons under a variety of conditions, including different temperatures, solvents, and gaseous environments. In preliminary studies, we developed a sensitive spectroscopy system to measure the properties and concentration of plasma-solvated electrons within several nanometers of the plasma/liquid interface. We revealed that plasma-solvated electrons are generated in unique environment leading to a shift in the absorption spectrum. However, these preliminary findings were incomplete due to the limitations of our existing instrumentation. With the proposed upgraded laser, we will be able to answer multiple unresolved questions about the nature of plasmasolvated electrons and how their unique interfacial environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 06, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710206
Entities
People
- David B Go
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Notre Dame