CAREER: CAS: Electrocatalytic Bilayer Interfaces for Controlled Proton Transport and Tandem Catalysis

在化学系化学催化项目的支持下，内华达州大学里诺分校的克里斯托弗·巴里尔教授将研究改善可再生能源和环境技术核心化学反应的方法。为此，Barile教授将研究耐用，高效和廉价的电催化剂的新方法。更具体地，聚合物层将用于控制和调节负载在电极表面上的催化剂。这种方法将提供这些催化剂如何运作的更详细的图片。此外，所追求的研究战略将是广泛重要的，因为结果将影响其他领域的基本利益和重要性，在化学和生物学。在进行研究的同时，Barile教授和他的团队将开发一个在线科学演示数据库SciDemoWiki，使用类似于维基百科的框架来改善科学教育。此外，Barile教授将领导一个团队，通过创建一个名为SIERRA（在里诺地区激发能源研究兴趣）的外展中心，教育北方内华达州的高中生。参加这次推广活动的学生将了解化学在绿色能源技术和应对气候变化方面发挥的核心作用。这些努力的目的是通过增加课堂上进行的科学演示的数量和质量来提高所有年级的科学素养。在化学系化学催化项目的支持下，内华达州里诺大学的克里斯托弗·巴里尔教授正在研究电化学双分子层界面，以控制质子转移动力学和催化剂选择性。这些架构将用于询问二氧化碳和硝酸盐还原反应的分子，纳米结构和金属电催化剂，这些过程有助于减少温室气体排放和净化水。通过用含氟聚合物膜和串联催化调节质子转移动力学，Barlie团队试图控制所研究的电催化反应的主要机理途径。将开发一个新的网上维基驱动的科学示范数据库SciDemoWiki，作为面向社区的教学工具，以此补充实验室研究。与此同时，该项目将在北方内华达州启动一个名为SIERRA（激发里诺地区能源研究兴趣）的外联中心，向高中生讲授化学在推进可再生能源技术和应对气候变化方面的核心作用。这些努力旨在通过增加课堂上进行的科学演示的数量和质量来提高所有年级的科学素养。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With the support of the Chemical Catalysis program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Christopher Barile of the University of Nevada, Reno will investigate methods to improve chemical reactions central to renewable energy and environmental technologies. To that end, Professor Barile will study new approaches to durable, efficient, and inexpensive electrocatalysts. More specifically, polymer layers will be used to control and modulate catalysts supported on electrode surfaces. This approach will afford a more detailed picture of how these catalysts operate. In addition, the research strategies pursued will be broadly important because the results will impact other areas that are of fundamental interest and importance in chemistry and biology. In conjunction with the research conducted, Professor Barile and his group will develop an online science demonstration database, SciDemoWiki, using a framework analogous to Wikipedia to improve science education. Additionally, Professor Barile will lead a team to educate high school students in Northern Nevada by creating an outreach center called SIERRA (Sparking Interest in Energy Research in the Reno Area). Students participating in this outreach will learn about the central role chemistry plays in green energy technologies and addressing climate change. These efforts are designed to improve science literacy across all grade levels by increasing the quantity and quality of science demonstrations performed in classrooms.With the support of the Chemical Catalysis program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Christopher Barile of the University of Nevada, Reno is studying electrochemical bilayer interfaces to control proton transfer dynamics and catalyst selectivity. These architectures will be used to interrogate molecular, nanostructured, and metal electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide and nitrate reduction reactions, processes instrumental in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and in purifying water. By modulating proton transfer kinetics with fluoropolymer membranes and through tandem catalysis, the Barlie team seeks to control the predominant mechanistic pathway for the electrocatalytic reaction under study. Laboratory research will be complemented by the development of a new online Wiki-driven science demonstration database, SciDemoWiki, as a community-facing pedagogical tool. At the same time, the project will launch an outreach center in Northern Nevada called SIERRA (Sparking Interest in Energy Research in the Reno Area) to teach high school students about chemistry’s central role in advancing renewable energy technologies and addressing climate change. These efforts aim tol improve science literacy across all grade levels by increasing the quantity and quality of science demonstrations performed in classrooms.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.