Titre : Electrocatalysis Up Close: A Nano-Scale Adventure into Sustainable Electrochemistry
Début : 11h00
Campus MIL, salle A-2553
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Résumé
In the quest for sustainable energy and chemical production, electrocatalysis has emerged as a transformative frontier, captivating both academia and industry. At its core lies the challenge of understanding the fundamental mechanisms that drive catalyst performance This talk dives into the nanoscale heart of electrochemistry, exploring how atomic-level or nanoscopic phenomena translate to macroscopic catalytic performance. First, I will discuss recent advancements in nanoelectrochemistry, highlighting our ability to monitor the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the single Platinum nanoparticle level. Using innovative methodologies, we simultaneously quantify active sites and catalytic turnover rates within individual particles, offering a more nuanced understanding of catalyst functionality. From there, I will try to challenge the traditional interpretations of turnover number (TON), often considered a singular metric of catalytic durability. By investigating HER on individual platinum nanoparticles, we demonstrate that TON is better represented as a distribution, shaped by particle size and applied potential. This paradigm shift highlights the need to rethink catalyst design strategies, focusing on intrinsic molecular-level properties to enhance long-term performance. I’ll conclude by providing exciting examples that aim to bridge the nano-scale phenomena to bulk-scale electrolysis via correlative microscopy and spectroscopy, such as fast Fourier transform electrochemical impedance and electron microscopy.
