(82e) Probing Dynamic Materials and Systems for Electrocatalytic Processes

Research in the Seitz lab aims to revolutionize catalytic processes at the foundation of our energy and chemical industries that are currently major drivers of climate change. Progress in this area is impeded by knowledge gaps of complex reaction mechanisms, intermediates, and catalysts needed to transform these industries. We seek to fill these gaps using an innovative combination of electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and materials science towards the development of catalyst materials and reactor systems with enhanced activity, selectivity, and stability. Electrochemical processes are a promising alternative to conventional thermochemical combustion processes as they operate at atmospheric temperature and pressure, produce fewer pollutants, and provide a mechanism for storage and conversion of vital renewable electricity sources.

We use controlled material syntheses and advanced spectroscopy techniques to monitor dynamic behavior or catalysts in response to reaction conditions. Notably, we have developed several iridium-based perovskite materials to establish electronic structure effects associated with systematic changes in composition, crystallinity, and strain. We use these materials to elucidate trends in structural reorganization and degradation mechanisms induced by reaction operating conditions, exemplified with water oxidation in acidic conditions, for which active and stable catalyst development has been a longstanding challenge. We also investigate the relationship between reactor bulk and catalyst local reaction environments to determine changes in reaction mechanism and product selectivity as a function of bulk electrolyte pH, concentration, cation identity, and operating potential. Local pH probes and kinetic isotope effect studies provide insights to behavior of carbon-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in systematically varied reaction environments. Understanding how to control complex electrochemical reaction mechanisms via catalyst and environment tuning is critical for reducing energy consumption and optimizing reaction selectivity towards desired product molecules that serve as critical building blocks for fuels and products that we rely on every day.