Atomic Force Microscope for Studies at Solid Liquid Interfaces

在这个项目中，我们建议采购一台高分辨率原子力显微镜，专门用于催化和电催化活性液/固界面的原位研究。该系统应安装在弗里德里希-亚历山大-埃尔朗根-纽伦堡大学的埃尔兰根界面研究和催化中心。该仪器将作为新成立的合作研究中心CRC 1452液体界面催化的关键仪器。通过与化学、物理学、材料科学和化学工程领域的多个研究小组的密切合作，该仪器将允许对液/固界面的（电）催化过程进行原子分辨率的基础结构研究。在CRC 1542中，我们将使用计划中的工具来推进与能源转换和储存、可再生能源的使用、氢的化学储存和节能催化相关的新材料概念。具体而言，我们的目标是探索液体界面的各向异性环境，以创建，定制和稳定具有独特反应性的催化活性位点。计划中的仪器将是探索所谓的具有离子液体层的先进固体催化剂的关键设施，这是一种将负载离子液体（IL）在催化中的使用扩展到功能化IL和电催化转化的材料概念。此外，计划中的AFM将使我们能够对界面增强型支撑离子液相进行原位研究，这是一种通过界面活性分子催化剂复合物产生活性位点的材料概念。最后，我们将使用该系统来表征所谓的负载催化活性液体金属溶液，一种新型的单原子催化剂。计划中的实验系统提供了原子尺度的洞察力，将有助于推动这些新兴概念的发展，以实现更好的选择性、生产率和鲁棒性。计划中的研究对该文书提出了一些具体要求。这将是必不可少的进行拓扑分析的固体/液体界面与原子分辨率的导电和非导电的支持。此外，研究必须在各种液体环境（例如离子液体、含水电解质、有机溶剂）和反应性气体气氛中在宽温度范围内进行。为了推进IL-改性电催化剂的新概念，在电位控制下的原位研究也是必不可少的。除了在原子水平上阐明拓扑结构外，计划中的仪器还应允许探索局部力和局部粘弹性，以促进对这些新的和新兴材料概念的基本理解。

In this project, we propose the procurement of a high resolution atomic force microscope, dedicated to in-situ studies of catalytically and electrocatalytically active liquid/solid interfaces. The system shall be installed at the Erlangen Center for Interface Research and Catalysis of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. The instrument will serve as key instrumentation for the newly established Collaborative Research Center CRC 1452 Catalysis at Liquid Interfaces. In close cooperation with several research groups from chemistry, physics, materials science and chemical engineering, which contribute to the CRC, the instrument will allow performing fundamental structural investigations with atomic resolution of (electro)catalytic processes at the liquid/solid interface. Within the CRC 1542, we will use the planned instrument to advance new materials concepts associated with energy transformation and storage, the use of renewable energies, chemical storage of hydrogen, and energy-efficient catalysis. In specific, we aim to explore the anisotropic environment of liquid interfaces to create, tailor, and stabilize catalytically active sites with unique reactivity. The planned instrument will be a key facility to explore so-called Advanced Solid Catalysts with Ionic Liquid Layers, a materials concept which expands the use of supported ionic liquids (ILs) in catalysis to functionalised ILs and to electrocatalytic transfor-mations. Furthermore, the planned AFM will allow us to perform in-situ studies of Interface-Enhanced Supported Ionic Liquid Phases, a materials concept that creates active sites via interface-active molecular catalyst complexes. Finally, we will use the system to characterize so-called Supported Catalytically Active Liquid Metal Solutions, a new type of single atom catalysts. Providing insight at the atomic scale, the planned experimental system will help to push forward these emerging concepts for better selectivity, productivity, and robustness. The planned studies impose a number of specific requirements on the instrument. It will be essential to perform topographic analysis of solid/liquid interfaces with atomic resolution both on conductive and non-conductive supports. Furthermore, the studies must be performed in various liquid environments (e.g. ILs, aqueous electrolytes, organic solvents) and in reactive gas atmosphere over a broad range of temperatures. To advance the novel concept of IL-modified electrocatalysts, in-situ studies under potential control are also essential. Beyond the elucidation of topology at the atomic level, the planned instrument should allow exploration of local forces and local viscoelastic properties to contribute to the fundamental understanding of these new and emerging materials concepts.