Elucidating Processes that Limit Energy Transfer in Electrocatalysis

“这项奖励是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。”德克萨斯理工大学的Carol Korzeniewski教授受到化学系分析和表面化学项目的支持，研究电催化反应中化学键能转化为电能时限制电荷转移的过程。提议的研究集中在两个领域：与燃料电池相关的反应催化，以及Nafion吸附到贵金属催化剂位点时对催化的影响。SEIRAS将用于表征地表及其附近的物种；伏安法将用于研究感兴趣的反应的动力学；建模将整合这些信息，以发展对表面反应动力学的详细和基本的理解。在界面电荷转移过程中获得的新知识将在燃料电池，腐蚀，粘附和电子传感器信号转导等能量转换过程中具有广泛的应用。教育活动包括对研究生和本科生的培训，以及通过德克萨斯理工大学赞助的科学和工程外展项目向K-12年级的妇女和女孩提供外展计划。

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."Professor Carol Korzeniewski of Texas Tech University is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry to investigate the processes that limit charge transfer during the conversion of chemical bond energy into electricity in electrocatalytic reactions. The proposed research is focused on two areas: catalysis of reactions relevant to fuel cells, and the impact of Nafion on catalysis as it adsorbs to noble metal catalyst sites. SEIRAS will be used to characterize the species at and near the surface; voltammetry will be used to examine the kinetics of the reactions of interest; and modeling will integrate this information to develop detailed and fundamental understanding of the dynamics of the surface reactions. The new knowledge gained on interfacial charge transfer processes would have broad applications in energy conversion processes such as fuel cells, corrosion, adhesion and signal transduction in electrical sensors. The educational activities involve the training of graduate and undergraduate students, and outreach plans towards women and girls at K-12 through the Texas Tech University sponsored science and engineering outreach programs.