Hydrodynamic Electrochemistry: Investigation of Interfacial Redox Reactions in Materials, Small Molecules, and Biomolecules

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Life would not exist without interfacial electron transfer (ET) reactions. More importantly, if we fail to learn more about such ET reactions, life as we know it will probably cease to exist. First, the biological machinery that enables function in every living cell relies on interfacial ET between proteins, between proteins and substrates, and across cell membranes. Second, emerging sustainable, solar, and analytical technologies also require diverse interfacial ET reactions, most importantly at interfaces between solids and analytes (both aqueous and non-aqueous). This proposal requests new electrochemical equipment for investigation of ET reactions in materials, small molecules, and biological molecules. Equipment will support research and training in inorganic, materials, biological and analytical chemistries. Specifically, we request a bipotentiostat and rotating ring-disk electrochemistry (RRDE) apparatus. This equipment will allow us to investigate the catalytic electrochemical behaviour of the above chemical systems (at the "disk") while simultaneously probing formation and behaviour of reaction products (at the "ring"). A bipotentiostat is required because this experiment is effectively two electrochemistry experiments at the same time. The electrode rotator allows for careful and quantitative analysis of catalytic kinetics and the effect of diffusion on reaction reactant and products. The requested potentiostat is state-of-the-art in terms of experimental diversity and instrumental sensitivity. As such, it will see routine use in traditional electrochemistry experiments as well, including cyclic voltammetry, pulse voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry, and impedance measurements. We do not currently have access to an RRDE system at SFU and consequently are unable to carry out the proposed research without further support. The Department of Chemistry at SFU is home to a breadth of expertise in redox reactions. The PI (Warren) is an emerging leader in redox chemistry of proteins and small molecules, especially with respect to reactions important for sustainable chemistry (e.g., CO2 and O2 reduction). The high sensitivity of the requested instrument also is ideal for investigating redox reactions of protein-embedded cofactors. Other users will include Profs. Daniel Leznoff and Tim Storr, who have emerging interests in the development of molecular materials and investigation of their redox chemistries. Prof. Hogan Yu is an expert in analytical chemistry and is excited to use our new RRDE to develop new chemical sensors based on DNAzymes. Finally, Prof. Byron Gates has a longstanding program in analytical chemistry and renewable fuel/catalysis research. His group is excited to use the requested equipment to investigate materials for glucose sensing and water oxidation.