Atomic-scale Insights into Electrocatalyst Structure and Function

Electrified metal-solution interfaces play a central role in electrochemical devices, enabling the efficient and sustainable production of fuels and synthetic precursors via electrolysis, as well as energy generation through fuel-cell catalysis. However, the poorly defined configuration of active sites in modern multi-metallic catalysts hinders our understanding of structure-performance relationships. Intermetallics, characterized by long-range atomic scale ordering and distinct compositions, offer an excellent platform for rigorously analyzing material structure and function. However, the lack of reliable methods to systematically control the phase, composition, and morphology of intermetallic nanoparticles has impeded their utilization for obtaining such insights. In this seminar, I will discuss our efforts to synthesize intermetallic materials at room temperature and how we use these materials to construct electrochemical reaction sites with atomic precision. This approach aims to bridge the gap in our understanding of structure-function relationships in electrocatalysis, potentially paving the way for more efficient renewable energy technologies.