Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical studies of functional nanomaterials and nanocomposites

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Increasing energy demands on a global scale have led to the excessive consumption of fossil fuels, which has translated to the increasingly deleterious effects of climate change. Canada has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. An envisioned hydrogen economy may serve as a promising strategy for making the transition from the rapidly waning fossil fuel era toward a new, clean, and sustainable energy generation paradigm. However, before a hydrogen economy is achieved, three core technical issues (e.g., hydrogen generation, storage, and utilization) need to be addressed. Electrolysis and photoelectrochemical water splitting offer the greatest potential for sustainable hydrogen production, where highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts and photocatalysts are essential to these processes. Since hydrogen is a low-density gas, it is difficult to store safely in a compact and affordable form. None of the currently available hydrogen storage materials meet the stringent criteria that has been established by the US Department of Energy. Pesticides play a major role in food production, as they are generally employed to protect crops against insects, weeds, fungi, and other pests. However, pesticides are potentially toxic to humans and can have both acute and chronic health impacts. This proposed research program builds on our expertise and explores novel approaches to develop advanced electrocatalysts, photocatalysts, and nanocomposites., with the goals of creating efficient Green Technologies for hydrogen production and storage, as well as for the removal of pesticides. This proposed research program will undertake to address fundamental issues associated with the composition, structure, and reactivity of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical interfaces. In particular, we will design novel single atom catalysts, double atom catalysts, quantum dots, and advanced three-dimensional nanostructures and nanocomposites, and investigate their localized electrocatalytic and photochemical activities, as well as hydrogen spillover effects. The findings from this proposed research are anticipated to have considerable beneficial implications for nanoelectrochemistry and society. It will assist with the establishment of firm correlations between interfacial structures, compositions, and reactivity, which will facilitate the development of advanced clean technologies to address increasingly critical energy, environmental, and climate change issues. Furthermore, this proposed research program will provide a stimulating academic environment for the training of undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows with strong expertise in electrochemistry, materials science, and clean energy technologies.