(3ev) Innovation on Net-Zero Carbon Emission Energy System

Yi-Rung Lin

Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University, Thomas F. Jaramillo Group

Research Interests:

My interests focus on innovations for clean energy technologies via advanced nanomaterial synthesis and functionalization; this is in conjunction with developing tools to gain insights from the system to enhance energy conversion from renewable sources more efficiently. Particularly, my focus is on chemical-to-electrical and electrical-to-chemical energy conversion processes, where catalysis plays a crucial role in utilizing renewable energy carriers or in producing solar fuels, respectively. The core of my research focuses on fundamental catalytic processes. These include studying charged carrier transport in semiconductor catalysts during energy conversion, as well as using surface science approaches to study catalysts-electrolyte (solid-liquid) interfaces. To tackle these challenges, we can integrate a variety of materials as catalyst and reactor components in an energy conversion system, including metal chalcogenides (sulfides, selenides), 2D materials, carbon-based nanomaterials (graphene, graphene-oxides), nitrides, oxides, metals, alloys and nanoparticles. This library of materials provides a versatile range of choices to address the complex challenges in modern catalytic applications as well as overcome the extreme reaction conditions.

Key words: (photo)electrocatalysis, 2D materials, Photovoltaics, Hydrocarbon production

Successful Proposals:

• LEAP@Stanford Program Fellowship awarded by Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Taiwan – July 2019
• Wu Chien-Shiung Scholarship - Best Thesis Award from Wu Chien-Shiung Education Foundation, Taiwan - Jan 2017
• IAMS Annual Award for Outstanding Publication by a Junior Researcher in Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan - Dec 2016
• Prestigious Award Research Proposal Grant - Dragon-Gate Project entitled “Photocatalytic CO₂ Conversion by 2D-2D Composite Photocatalysis” from Ministry of Science and technology, Taipei, Taiwan - Aug 2016
• Outstanding Students Scholarship in Foundation for the Advancement of Outstanding Scholarship, Taiwan - May 2013

Postdoctoral Project:

July 2019-Present

SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis & Dept. of Chemical Engineering

with Prof. Thomas F. Jaramillo, Stanford University

• Developing catalyst materials for important energy conversion reactions that involve improved sustainability
• ” Enhanced ethylene selectivity in CO₂ reduction via engineering cuprous oxide nanoparticles in tandem with Ni,N-doped carbon catalysts” (Manuscript In Preparation)
• Study of the fundamental properties of oxide-derived copper for carbon mono-oxide (CO) Reduction
• Multiscale-modeling on the microenvironment of Cu₂O-based gas diffusion electrode in alkaline condition for CO₂

April 2016-May 2019

Joint center for artificial photosynthesis (JCAP) & Dept. of Material Sciences and Applied Physics with Prof. Harry A. Atwater, California Institute of Technology, CA

• “Band Edge Tailoring in Few-layer Two-dimensional Molybdenum Sulfides/Selenides Alloys” (manuscript in submission)
• Alloying two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction reactions
• MOCVD growth of high-crystalline two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides (MoS₂ and MoSe₂)
• Photoemission measurements and DFT theory insights of band structures of MoSSe alloys
• Photoluminescence enhancement of two-dimensional perovskite/WS₂ heterojunctions

PhD Dissertation:

“Defect Engineering and Admittance Spectroscopy Study of CZTSSe Solar Cells” Under supervision of Prof. Ling-Kang Liu from National Taiwan University, Dr. Li-Chyong Chen from Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, and Dr. Kuei-Hsien Chen from Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.

Research Experience:

My academic career path has been a blend of many fields of science and engineering. My training was mainly in chemistry and materials sciences, which enables me to tackle a broad range of research challenges through my interdisciplinary background. From chalcogenide-based thin film solar cells, lithium ion-batteries, 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, 2D perovskite (PVSK) to (photo)electrochemical CO₂ reduction, I have learned a broad set of skills. These will enable me to incorporate suitable emerging materials into devices to solve key engineering challenges while answering fundamental questions. Also, to gain insights into fundamental questions in my research projects, I like to initiate collaborations with theorists to use density functional theory for band structures calculations, and to use multi-scale modeling of reaction kinetics and fluidic dynamics for reactor design. These invaluable collaborations allow me to have versatile research experiences in chemistry, materials science, applied physics, and chemical engineering. As a result of being intensely involved in both the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP) at Caltech and SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis at Stanford, lots of scientific discussions and seminars broadened my horizons in the field of solar fuels and catalysis.

Teaching Experience and Plans:

Along with my research career, I have extensive teaching and mentoring experiences. I was a teaching assistant for a semester for a lab course in physical chemistry to juniors during my masters at National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. Moreover, I mentored many undergraduates and graduates from various backgrounds and nationalities in my group at National Taiwan University, Caltech, and Stanford. My goal in teaching is to give my students a broad vision of the sciences and technology, which will inspire and lead them to future success. My multidisciplinary backgrounds enable me cover various subjects that I am happy to teach, such as General Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, Thermodynamics, Analytical Chemistry, and Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering. In addition, my academic background, which includes chemistry, materials sciences and chemical engineering, will allow me to create interdisciplinary courses that incorporate state-of-the-art research topics.

Future Direction:

My major research goal aims to leverage materials design principles to tailor the intrinsic catalytic properties and the light-harvesting capabilities of catalysts for the realization of novel and efficient devices for solar energy generation, storage and conversion. I am passionate about uniting my PhD and postdoctoral work in chemistry, material sciences, applied physics, and chemical engineering to advance the discovery of interdisciplinary materials for energy conversion.

My research will be conducted in three research areas, (Photo)electrocatalysis for sustainable energy conversion, such as carbon dioxide reduction, hydrocarbon reduction and seawater splitting. First, I will advance the following three aspects of electrocatalytic carbon dioxide conversion: (i) utilizing sequential pathways to convert CO₂ to higher chemicals (ii) advancing the reactor design and electrolyte properties for high-energy efficient electron-to-chemical transformations, and (iii) functionalization of catalysts surface hydrophilicity on gas-diffusion electrode. Second, I propose solar-driven CO₂ conversion through using photoelectrochemical cells and specialized photocatalytic cells, respectively, incorporated with semiconductor photocatalysts for hydrocarbons and valuable chemicals generations. Finally, I will focus on developing the next generation water splitting technology by designing electrocatalysts that acts in seawater.

I am in a unique position to conduct my future research due to my extensive experience with photovoltaics and carbon dioxide conversion. The past research experience has helped me establish a solid foundation in materials discovery, photon-energy conversion, reaction kinetics, cell fabrication, and defects analysis. In particular, I have synthesized a broad category of materials for chalcogenide thin-film solar cells, lithium ion batteries, and carbon dioxide reduction catalysis. I have expertise in making alloys, quaternary metal chalcogenides, two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, metal oxides, metal sulfide/selenides, and graphene-based materials. My extensive and in-depth work on materials discovery has given me the unique qualification to tackle challenges in energy materials.

Selected Publications:

1. R. Lin, W. H. Cheng, M. H. Richter, J. S. DuChene, E. A. Peterson, C. M. Went, Z. Y. Al Balushi, D. Jariwala, J. B. Neaton, L.-C. Chenand H. A. Atwater*, Band Edge Tailoring in Few-layer Two-dimensional Molybdenum Sulfides/Selenides Alloys (Under Review, The Journal of the Physical Chemistry C in June 2020)

1. A. Q. Yang, J.-C. Blancon, W. Jiang, H. Zhang, J. Wong, E. X. Yan, Y. R. Lin, J. J. Crochet, M. G. Kanatzidis, D. Jariwala, T. Low, A. Mohite and H. A. Atwater, Giant Enhancement of Photoluminescence Emission in WS₂-2D Perovskite Heterostructures, Nano Lett. 2019, 19, 8, 4852-4860
2. W. C. Chen, C. Y. Chen, Y. R. Lin, J. K. Chang, C. H. Chen, Y. P. Chiu, K. H. Chen and L. C. Chen, Interface engineering of CdS/CZTSSe heterojunctions for enhancing the Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ solar cell efficiency, Materials today energy, 13, 2019, p256-266

4. M. Chiu, T. C. Chou, D. P. Wong, Y. R. Lin, C. A. Shen, S. Hy, B.J. Hwang, Y. Tai, H. L. Wu, L. C. Chen and K.H. Chen, A Synergistic “cascade” Effect in Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide Nanowalls for Highly Stable and Efficient Lithium Ion Storage, Nano Energy 44, 438 (2018)
5. R. Lin, T. C. Chou, L. K. Liu, L.C. Chen and K.H. Chen
   A Facile and Green Synthesis of Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) Materials for Thin Film Photovoltaics, Thin Solid Films 618, 124-129 (2016)
6. R. Lin, V. Tunuguntla, S. Y. Wei, W. C. Chen, D. Wong, C. H. Lai, L. K. Liu, L. C. Chen and K. H. Chen, Bifacial Sodium-incorporated Treatments: Tailoring Deep Traps and Enhancing Carrier Transport Properties in Cu₂ZnSnS₄ Solar Cells, Nano Energy 16, 438 (2015)
7. Tunuguntla, W. C. Chen, P. H. Shih, I. Shown, Y. R. Lin, J. S. Hwang, C. H. Lee, L. C. Chen and K. H. Chen, Nontoxic Solvent Based Sol-Gel Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Film for High Efficiency and Scalable Low-cost Photovoltaic Cells, J. Mater. Chem. A 3, 15324 (2015)