Description
Flyer: Prof. Ellen M. Matson Flyer
Title: Structure-function Relationships that Dictate Proton Coupled Electron Transfer at the Surfaces of Polyoxometalate Clusters
Abstract:While the dynamics of proton- and electron-transfer at metal oxides have been studied extensively in the field of electrochemical energy storage, researchers have only very recently begun to understand how these process play out on molecular length scales and in the presence of small-molecule substrates. The latter is notable, considering that redox-active metal oxides are widely used in thermal and electrochemical catalytic processes. Further advances in the effective use of metal oxides in electrochemical catalysis will require improved understanding of elementary charge-transfer reaction mechanisms. Our research team has been studying the interfacial reactivity of reducible metal oxides using atomically precise, polyoxometalate clusters as models for extended materials. Polyoxometalates (POMs) consist of three of more redox-active transition metal oxyanions that are linked together by bridging oxide units to form three dimensional structures. These self-assembled clusters are well-positioned to provide insight into the surface chemistry of reducible metal oxides. This talk will focus on the synthesis and characterization of reduced POMs, which have provided our research group with opportunities to investigate factors that dictate mechanisms of H-atom uptake and transfer at metal oxide surfaces. Collectively, our studies inform our understanding of proton-dependent reactivity of metal oxide surfaces, toward the design of materials capable of converting chemical pollutants into energy-rich fuels.
