Description:

Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) Seminar Series

Friday, March 7, 2025 | 12-1pm CT
Ryan Hall, 4003 | 2190 Campus Drive (Virtual Option via Zoom)
Lunch provided

Join the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) for the Seminar Series. Hear from a postdoctoral scholar during a presentation. This month's speaker is Kelsey Stoerzinger.

About the Presentation

Speaker: Kelsey Stoerzinger

Title: "Designing Electrocatalysts to Tailor Activity and Selectivity"

Abstract: 

Electrocatalysis can drive reactions with renewable electricity and present new reaction
pathways for chemical transformations. Our design approach stems from fundamental
understanding of material surfaces and how they interact with reactants, intermediates, and
electrolyte species. We are particularly motivated by understanding conditions that result in
competitive reaction environments and designing catalysts to facilitate a given pathway. One such example is the kinetically competitive electrooxidation of water and chloride ions during the electrolysis of saline water, which can be manipulated by epitaxial strain and
crystallographic orientation of oxides. Another example is competitive adsorption of hydrogen and nitrate on metals, which varies with electrochemical potential. This interfacial condition, together with a material’s relative affinity for the two, tailors the Faradaic efficiency and product distribution in nitrate electroreduction. Our studies provide a benchmark assessment of intrinsic activity and selectivity important for comparison with theory, and together with our interrogation of the electrocatalytic interface develops mechanistic understanding that further enables catalyst design.

The mission of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science (CCSS) is to promote interdisciplinary research fundamental to the discovery, synthesis, and understanding of catalysts and catalytic reactions essential to modern society. As a part of the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, CCSS applies fundamental advances in catalysis science towards applications in alternative fuels, abatement of harmful emissions, resource recovery concepts, new processing routes, and many other strategies towards making chemicals more sustainable.