(6t) Engineering the Electrochemical Interface for Sustainable Energy Conversion and Storage

Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, mariaesc@stanford.edu

Research Interests:

One of the most important challenges facing humanity is the switch from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. Electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices such as fuel cells, electrolyzers and batteries should play a key role in this switch. My research combines electrochemical methods with surface science X-ray based characterization techniques, in situ spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy, in order to investigate problems pertaining to interfacial electrochemistry and electrocatalysis. Reactions of interest include water splitting, oxygen reduction, hydrogen oxidation, oxidation of carbon monoxide and methanol, carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen peroxide production. My scientific interests can be summarized as follows:

(a) Studying the descriptors determining the activity, stability and selectivity of electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage devices [1-3].

(b) Determining and designing the catalytically active site [1-5].

(c) Investigating the role of the geometric structure (atomic ensemble effects [1]) and electronic properties of the surface atoms (electronic effects [2,3]) in electrocatalysis.

(d) Engineering the electrode-electrolyte interface [1,6].

Teaching Interests:

Not only have I a strong dedication to my scientific research, but also to teaching. Since 2013 I have taught a graduate course on Materials for hydrogen production and storage at the Technical University of Denmark. As a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in Physical Chemistry, I am interested in teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in Sustainable Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Catalysis, Spectroscopy and Chemical Engineering.

References:

[1] D. Strmcnik, M. Escudero-Escribano, K. Kodama, V. Stamenkovic, A. Cuesta, Nature Chem. 2010, 2, 880.

[2] M. Escudero-Escribano, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 16476.

[3] M. Escudero-Escribano, et al., Science 2016, 352, 73.

[4] A.F. Pedersen, et al., Nano Energy 2016, doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.05.026

[5] P. Malacrida, M. Escudero-Escribano, A. Verdaguer-Casadevall, I.E.L. Stephens, I. Chorkendorff, J. Mater. Chem. A 2014, 2, 4234.

[6] M. Escudero-Escribano, et al., ChemPhysChem 2011, 12, 2230.