Enabling Quantitative Real-Time Detection of Volatile Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Reaction Products with an ElectroChemical Mass Spectrometer (EC-MS)

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As global energy consumption increases, the demand for renewable energy technologies and processes having a less harmful impact on the environment is growing rapidly. Among the numerous efforts deployed to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, one promising strategy is to power the synthesis of chemicals and fuels from naturally abundant resources and by using renewable electricity. These processes are compatible with green energy sources like hydroelectricity and intermittent renewable energy supplies such as solar- or wind-derived electricity and can enable sustainable production of chemicals and fuels. Accordingly, substantial efforts have been made to store energy in the forms of chemical bonds by developing processes for the (photo)electrochemical conversion of CO2, N2, H2O and biomass to valuable products, such as hydrocarbons and oxygenates, ammonia and hydrogen, and to foster the development of improved energy storage devices. Developing and deploying these technologies will require the application of knowledge, concepts and tools from a variety of fields including materials science, physics, chemistry (electrochemistry) and, most particularly, electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. This relies on our understanding of the structure-activity-stability relationships of catalytic materials for the targeted reactions. The aim of this proposal is to purchase a unique electrochemical mass spectrometer (EC-MS) capable of quantitative and real-time detection of (photo)electrochemical reaction products. The equipment offers a set of unprecedented capabilities in terms of sensitivity and response time, allowing measurements to be performed on a time scale and with a sensitivity that cannot be reached now. The equipment will be used hands-on by 40 HQP, adding an important component to their training and increasing their employability. It is needed urgently and is critical to the research of all co-applicants. It will greatly expand their research capabilities and raise their ability to build and strengthen their collaborations with academia and industry. It is required for research programs in areas of high socio-economic importance to Canada, e.g. energy conversion and storage (fuel cells, NH3 synthesis, conversion of CO2 into value-added products, hydrogen production, lithium batteries, solar fuels), wastewater treatment and materials sciences. Considering the global importance of these areas, the acquisition of this equipment will propel Canadian research to the forefront of the scientific scene, enabling our researchers to develop accurate mechanistic models, shed light on the processes responsible for their degradation, and ultimately develop materials that are stable in operating conditions and that show better energy efficiency and improved conversion efficiency.