Jeffrey I. Zink Inorganic Chemistry Seminar Series – Prof. Hang Ren

“Unveiling the Complexity and Heterogeneity of Electrochemical Interfaces”

Abstract: Electrochemical interfaces are central to critical processes such as energy conversion, storage, and corrosion mitigation. However, their inherent complexity and dynamic nature present significant challenges to uncovering structure-activity relationships. This presentation highlights advances in probing the heterogeneity of electrocatalytic interfaces through scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) and its new extensions. The talk begins with an exploration of the heterogeneity in electrocatalytic activity at the single-electrocatalyst level, providing fresh insights into the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on hematite nanorods. A hybrid SECM-SECCM probe is then introduced, which combines the high-resolution mapping of SECCM with the selective detection capabilities of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). This method enables simultaneous measurements of activity and selectivity in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Lastly, nanoelectrochemistry studies on the electrodeposition process will be discussed, which allows for fundamental understanding in nucleation, as well as platform for synthesizing library of electrocatalysts. These advancements provide a unified framework for investigating and learning from complex electrochemical interfaces.