1. Analysis of Microenvironment of Heterogeneous Electrocatalysis
Heterogeneous electrocatalysis plays an essential role in the electrochemical activation of small molecules (e.g., OER) and in the valorization of abundant chemical feedstock (e.g., electrochemical oxidation of methane). A key component in heterogeneous electrocatalysis is elucidating the interplay of the local surface composition and electrochemical activity. Our lab is interested in merging surface characterization techniques such as XPS and sXRD, spectroscopy methods, and scanning probe electrochemical microscopy to analyze spatially heterogeneous electrocatalytic activity and provide insight into the correlation of local microenvironment composition and electrochemical activity.
2. Engineering Electrode-Solvent Interface for the Electroorganic Reactions
Electrosynthesis of organic compounds presents a green alternative to common chemical synthetic routes, replacing harsh reaction conditions (e.g., high temperature and pressure) and chemical reagents with electricity. In this context, heterogeneous electrocatalysis can significantly reduce the final cost of synthesis by lowering the overall energy input, minimizing required separation steps, and circumventing the loss of the homogeneous catalyst. The pivotal step in developing effective heterogeneous electrocatalysis is engineering the interface of the electrode and solvent and creating new electrode materials that can tolerate electrosynthesis conditions while exhibiting a sustainable electrocatalytic response. Our lab is dedicated to developing heterogeneous electrocatalysis for organic electrochemistry and the synthesis of small organic compounds with importance for various chemical industries and human health.
3. Electrochemistry of Environmental Pollutants
A long-standing challenge in environmental chemistry is developing a green and waste-free approach to remove and remediate organic pollutants, such as pesticides and herbicides. Our lab is interested in two primary objectives: 1) developing electroanalytical methodologies to systematically study the electrochemistry of complex organic pollutants, 2) developing electrochemical methods to safely decontaminate these pollutants while recovering their molecular constituents.
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