EXtending Interface Science To Atmospheric-pressure Reactions

This project aims to deliver a step change in our understanding of electrode and catalyst interfaces, by pioneering operando measurement capabilities that can reveal the chemistry and structure of functional interfaces under working conditions in liquid and gas environments at atmospheric-pressures and above. We will exploit enclosed reaction cells sealed with X-ray, electron and neutron transparent windows, extending their operation to conditions of temperature and pressure where industrial catalytic reactions occur, as well as the liquid environments of electrochemical energy storage. These cells will be portable across complementary characterisation tools to reveal the chemical and structural evolution of material interfaces during operation. Solid-liquid studies will focus on electrode materials for Li-ion batteries, that are critical to energy storage for a low carbon economy. This will reveal the degradation mechanisms that lead to capacity fade across varying conditions of stress (T, voltage, rate) during electrochemical cycling. Solid-gas studies will focus on heterogeneous catalysts for sustainable production of useful chemical feedstocks from environmentally harmful waste streams. We aim to reveal the nature of the active sites in catalysts used for chemical synthesis from carbon dioxide, and understand how combining these catalysts with oxide supports influences their activity and selectivity. Relationships will be established between the interfacial structure and function of these materials in terms of their electrochemical cycling performance and catalytic activity/selectivity. This will ultimately inform the design of new functional materials for use in technologies that are critical to a sustainable economy. The scope for research problems that can benefit from this atmospheric pressure operando approach is vast, providing many future research opportunities.