Exploring Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquids as a New Synthetic Path Toward Electrocatalysts

本提案将研究使用一种新技术，脉冲激光烧蚀在液体（PLAL）中制备纳米粒子电催化剂。PLAL是一种很有前途的制备纳米粒子的合成方法，它不需要有毒的化学物质，而且易于扩展——对未来的发展有利。PLAL实际上被视为一种尽量减少化学品使用的技术，是一种非常“绿色”的技术。在这项提议中，plal生成的纳米粒子电催化剂将在二氧化碳（CO2）转化为有用产品（如甲酸盐、乙醇等）的电化学过程中进行研究。政府间气候变化专门委员会2018年的一份最新报告清楚地表明，需要新的解决方案来成功解决日益严重的全球变暖和二氧化碳排放问题。然而，二氧化碳是一种非常稳定的分子。因此，需要电催化剂，一种减少反应能量需求的材料，来转化二氧化碳。本研究计划的一个方面是制备这种电催化剂。PLAL将首先用于合成单金属纳米颗粒，以验证我们的合成方法对抗当前的电催化剂。然后，从现成的材料（如锡或镍）中制备双金属纳米粒子，并在二氧化碳电解槽中使用。二氧化碳电解槽是一种用电将二氧化碳转化为其他化学物质的装置。与电池类似，电解槽也有两极，或者更正式地说，有两个电极。这个研究计划的第二个方面是对第二电极的研究。目前，在第二个电极上发生的反应是水氧化成氧，这是一种环境友好的反应，用于商业上可用的碱性电解槽，从水中产生氢和氧。然而，二氧化碳电解槽与碱性水电解槽在不同的实验条件下运行，因此重新评估适合转换二氧化碳的催化剂的选择至关重要。最后，也是非常吸引人的，这个提议的一个方面是设计一种新型电解槽，它在一个电极上消除二氧化碳，在另一个电极上转化另一种废物，如肼或尿素。这种包容性设计还可以减少转换二氧化碳所需的能量。由于PLAL是一种多用途的技术，它将允许纳米材料的合成探索所描述的各个方面。最终，这个研究项目是与环境相关的，因为用这种方法制备电催化剂将有助于减缓气候变化，并缓解我们向可再生能源的过渡。此外，PLAL方法最大限度地减少了有毒化学品的使用，易于扩大规模，从而为二氧化碳排放这一紧迫的环境问题提供了可持续的解决办法。从长远来看，该项目可以为PLAL的广泛应用铺平道路，例如解决与电池材料或燃料电池相关的挑战。

This proposal will investigate the use of a novel technique, pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL) for preparing nanoparticle electrocatalysts. PLAL is a promising synthetic approach for preparing nanoparticles that does not require toxic chemicals and is easily scable - advantageous for future developments. PLAL is actually viewed as a technique that minimizes chemical use, making a very "green" technique. In this proposal, PLAL-generated nanoparticle electrocatalysts will be examined in the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to useful products, such as formate salts, ethanol, etc. A recent, 2018 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change clearly demonstrates that new solutions are needed to successfully tackle the growing problem of global warming and CO2 emissions. However, CO2 is a very stable molecule. Thus, electrocatalysts, materials that reduce the energy requirements for a reaction, are required convert CO2. One aspect of this research program is to prepare such electrocatalysts. PLAL will first be used to synthesize monometallic nanoparticles to validate our synthetic approach against current electrocatalysts. Bimetallic nanoparticles from readily available materials, such as tin or nickel, will then be prepared and employed in a CO2 electrolyzer, a device that converts CO2 into other chemicals, using electricity. Akin to a battery, an electrolyzer has two poles or, formally speaking, two electrodes. The second aspect of this research program is the study of the second electrode. Currently, the reaction occurring at this second electrode is the water oxidation to oxygen - an environmentally friendly reaction used in commercially-available alkaline electrolyzers to generate hydrogen and oxygen from water. However, CO2 electrolyzers do not operate under the same experimental conditions as alkaline water electrolyzers, therefore it is critical to reevaluate the choice of catalysts appropriate to convert CO2. The last, and very attractive, aspect of this proposal is the design of novel electrolyzers that incorporate CO2 elimination at one electrode with the conversion of another waste product, such as hydrazine or urea, at the other electrode. Such an inclusive design may also decrease the energy required to convert CO2. As PLAL is a versatile technique, it will allow the synthesis of nanomaterials for exploring all aspects described. Ultimately, this research program is environmentally relevant, as preparing electrocatalysts using this approach will help mitigate climate change and ease our transition toward renewable energies. Furthermore, the PLAL approach minimizes the use of toxic chemicals and is easy to scale up, thereby offering a sustainable solution to the pressing environmental problem of CO2 emissions. In long term, this program could pave the way toward a broader use of PLAL, for example to tackle challenges associated with battery materials or fuel cells.