Sustainable Fuels Webinar Series
Understanding the mechanism of water oxidation on oxide electrocatalysts
Abstract
Efficient (photo)electrochemical oxidation of water is pivotal in the production of energy carriers such as hydrogen by water splitting, other synthetic carbon-neutral fuels by carbon dioxide reduction, as well as in the production of metals from metal oxides. Ni-based oxides and oxyhydroxide electrocatalysts show promising activity for the water oxidation reaction, but designing more efficient catalysts requires a detailed understanding of the mechanism and the rate-determining step. Gaining such mechanistic insights is challenging since multiple redox states can be accessed in such materials and the density of the active species can change as a function of potential. In this talk, I will demonstrate the application of operando spectroelectrochemistry to determine the population density of active species as a function of potential and understand its impact on water oxidation kinetics. I will specifically focus on metal-doped nickel oxide state-of-the-art catalysts to elucidate how spectroelectrochemical approaches can provide novel insights into the reaction mechanism and facilitate the development of next-generation catalysts.
Biography
Dr Reshma Rao holds a MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton (2014). In June 2019, she completed her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she worked with Professor Yang Shao-Horn on understanding the fundamental processes that occur at oxide-water interfaces under electrochemical conditions that are relevant for water splitting. In January 2020, she moved to Imperial College London, where she is a Research Associate in Professor James Durrant’s group in the Department of Chemistry; since 2021 she is also being co-advised by Dr. Ifan Stephens in the Department of Materials. Her research interests include understanding (electro)chemical reactivity at solid-gas and solid-liquid interfaces using operando spectroscopic techniques.
About Energy Futures Lab
Energy Futures Lab is one of six Global Institutes at Imperial College London. The institute was established to address global energy challenges by identifying and leading new opportunities to serve industry, government and society at large through high quality research, evidence and advocacy for positive change. The institute aims to promote energy innovation and advance systemic solutions for a sustainable energy future by bringing together the science, engineering and policy expertise at Imperial and fostering collaboration with a wide variety of external partners. The Energy Futures Lab daytime seminars are delivered by staff and students from across the College and further afield.