Collaborative Research: EAGER: Measuring the Kinetics of Gas-Generating Electrolysis through the Collective Modes of Bubble Evolution

该项目将涉及技术开发和探索性研究，以研究电极界面上气泡的形成机理和动力学，以及它们对与太阳能燃料生产有关的水相电解和光电化学反应的影响。最先进的X射线和光学散射技术将与数据分析方法和新的催化剂合成技术相结合，以前所未有的时间和空间分辨率将气泡演化模式与催化活性联系起来。由此达成的谅解将有助于优化分级结构光催化装置的设计，以便有效地将水和二氧化碳等丰富资源转化为可持续能源未来所需的太阳能燃料。这项研究将利用高速显微镜和散射实验来发展对电解和光解气泡演化的统计理解。X射线显微镜数据将被用来开发气泡生长、聚合和从连续的和图案化的电催化界面分离的模型。这一模型将有助于理解使用显微镜测量和光散射测量的图像分析测量从电极放出的气泡之间的相关性。本研究旨在开发一种通过对启发式体系(如二氧化钛光催化剂和硅上的铂电催化剂)进行空间倒置测量来研究催化作用的方法。最终目标是将气泡相关光谱作为一种通用技术与催化剂结构的精确合成相结合，以最大限度地减少气泡干扰对太阳能燃料催化的影响。除了推进关键的可持续燃料技术，该项目还将为本科生和研究生提供先进的光谱方法、数据分析技术和催化剂合成方面的跨学科培训，并为高中生和本科生提供一个高度跨学科的环境，让他们学习如何在团队中工作，以提高科学知识。

The project will involve technique development and exploratory research to examine the mechanism and dynamics of gas bubble formation at electrode interfaces and their effects on aqueous-phase electrolysis and photoelectrochemical reactions related to solar fuel production. State-of-the-art x-ray and optical scattering techniques will be combined with data analytic methods and novel catalyst synthesis techniques to relate modes of bubble evolution to catalytic activity at unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. The resulting understanding will aid in optimizing the design of hierarchically structured photocatalytic devices for efficient conversion of abundant resources such as water and carbon dioxide to solar fuels needed for a sustainable energy future. The research will utilize high speed microscopy and scattering experiments to develop a statistical understanding of electrolytic and photolytic bubble evolution. X-ray microscopy data will be used to develop a model for bubble growth, coalescence, and detachment from continuous and patterned electrocatalytic interfaces. This model will inform the understanding of measurements of correlations between gas bubbles evolving from electrodes using image analysis from microscopy measurements and light scattering measurements. This research aims to develop a methodological approach for studying catalysis via reciprocal space measurements on heuristic systems such as TiO2 photocatalysts and Pt electrocatalysts on Si. The ultimate goal is to utilize bubble correlation spectroscopy as a general technique in combination with precision synthesis of catalyst structures to minimize the impact of bubble interference on solar fuels catalysis. In addition to advancing critical sustainable fuels technology, the project will provide undergraduate and graduate students with cross-disciplinary training in advanced spectroscopic methods, data analysis techniques, and catalyst synthesis, as well as providing a highly interdisciplinary environment for high school and undergraduate students to learn how to work in a team to advance scientific knowledge.