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，以研究电极界面气泡形成的机制和动力学及其对与太阳能燃料生产相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型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变模式与催化活性联系起来。由此产生的理解将有助于优化分层结构的光催化装置的设计，以有效地将水和二氧化碳等丰富的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，以发展电解和光解气泡演变的统计理解。X射线显微镜数据将被用来开发一个模型的气泡生长，聚结，并脱离连续和图案化的电催化界面。该模型将告知使用来自显微镜测量和光散射测量的图像分析从电极演化的气泡之间的相关性的测量的理解。本研究的目的是开发一种方法学的方法来研究催化通过倒易空间测量的启发式系统，如二氧化钛光催化剂和Pt电催化剂的Si。最终目标是利用气泡相关光谱作为一种通用技术，结合催化剂结构的精确合成，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外，该项目还将为本科生和研究生提供先进光谱方法，数据分析技术和催化剂合成的跨学科培训，并为高中和本科生提供高度跨学科的环境，以学习如何在团队中工作，以推进科学知识。

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.