A Study of Nonlinear Behavior in the Electrochemical Oxidation of Oxygenated Organics

南方卫理公会大学的Mark Schell得到了理论和计算化学计划的支持，该计划研究含氧有机物的电化学氧化，使用实验和理论方法来探索这些过程及其表现出的非线性行为。大部分努力将集中在甲酸氧化上。目的是表征阴离子影响氧化过程的不同方式，找到这些影响的根源，并研究这些影响是否可以用来探索电化学机制。通过研究阴离子与周围静止和瞬变邻居的相互作用，有望获得实质性的新认识。研究成果有望加强对燃料电池应用中重要的氧化反应的理解。这个项目将为本科生在理论和实验化学方面提供有价值的入门研究机会。含氧有机物的电催化氧化因其在燃料电池中的应用而具有重要意义。提高商用环境下甲醇-空气燃料电池的生存能力，以取代传统的化石燃料来源，是许多学术和工业研究人员的目标。这个目标很重要，因为环境中的温室气体正在增加，也因为未来可能会出现化石燃料能源短缺。这项研究的一个实际目标是通过类似于强化甲酸氧化的方法来强化甲醇的氧化。加强甲醇氧化可以转化为更高效的燃料电池。

Mark Schell of Southern Methodist University is supported by the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Program to study the electrochemical oxidation of oxygenated organics, using experimental and theoretical approaches to explore these processes and the nonlinear behavior that they exhibit. Most of the effort will focus on formic acid oxidation. Objectives are to characterize the different ways that anions affect the oxidation process, to find the origin of these effects, and to investigate whether these effects can be used to probe electrochemical mechanisms. Substantial new understanding is expected to be gained by studying anion interactions with surrounding stationary and transient neighbors. Research outcomes are expected to enhance the understanding of oxidation reactions that are important in fuel cell applications. This project will provide valuable introductory research opportunities to undergraduate students in both theoretical and experimental chemistry. The electrocatalyzed oxidations of oxygenated organic compounds are important because of their applications in fuel cells. It is a goal of many academic and industrial researchers to improve the viability of commercial ambient methanol-air fuel cells to replace conventional fossil fuel sources. This goal is important because greenhouse gases are increasing in the environment, and as well because future fossil fuel energy shortages are probable. A practical objective of this research is to enhance methanol oxidation by methods similar to those used to enhance formic acid oxidation. Enhancing methanol oxidation translates into more efficient fuel cells.