Analytical and Mechanistic Studies in Electrochemistry

丹尼斯·埃文斯教授和他的研究小组将研究两电子转移反应，重点是与第二电子转移步骤相关的现象。涉及协同电子和质子转移(CEPT)的反应将特别令人感兴趣。将研究CEPT机理的要求，包括动力学势垒以及反应物和产物的酸碱性质。氧气还原通过其在腐蚀和燃料电池功能中的作用，与生命过程和技术重要性具有很大的相关性，将被选为详细研究的系统之一。还将研究涉及电位反转的反应，即在双电子过程中插入或移除第二个电子比移除第一个电子更容易发生的现象，作为该项目主要推动力的一部分。还在开展有关在碱催化的合成反应中用作试剂的碱的电化学生成的相关应用工作。这项研究将加深对多电子转移反应的基本认识。将采用现代电化学方法。结果将与广泛的领域高度相关。影响生物系统、能源生产和高价值化学品合成的过程就是几个例子。

Professor Dennis Evans and his research group will investigate two-electron transfer reactions focusing on phenomena associated with the second electron transfer step. Reactions that involve concerted electron and proton transfer (CEPT) will be of special interest. Requirements for the CEPT mechanism including kinetic barriers and the acid-base properties of reactants and products will be investigated. Dioxygen reduction, which has great relevance to life processes and technological importance through its role in corrosion and fuel cell function, will be among the systems selected for detailed study. Reactions that involve potential inversion, the phenomenon where the insertion or removal of the second electron in a two electron process occurs more easily than does removal of the first electron, will also be studied as part of the major thrust of the project. Related applied work involving electrochemical generation of bases for use as reagents in base-catalyzed synthetic reactions is also being undertaken. This research will develop fundamental understanding of multi-electron-transfer reactions. Modern electrochemical methodology will be employed. Outcomes will be highly relevant to a wide range of areas. Processes that affect biological systems, energy production, and synthesis of high value chemicals are a few examples.