Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

Heterogenized Molecular Catalyst Materials for Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Conversion

Date and Time
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Location
French Family Science Center 2237

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Professor Hailiang Wang (Yale University, Department of Chemistry) will speak on carbon dioxide conversion. Co-sponsored by the Duke University Energy Initiative's Energy Research Seminar Series.

Abstract: 
Sustainable energy utilization and carbon emission reduction are critical challenges for the world. Solving these challenges requires precise control of many important chemical reactions with sluggish kinetics and myriad possible reaction pathways and associated products. There is a critical need for selective, active, durable and low-cost catalysts. This talk presents our research efforts aimed at bridging the gap between homogenous catalysis and heterogeneous catalysis to realize materials with new or improved electrocatalytic properties for the carbon dioxide reduction reactions. We have developed heterogenized metal-complex electrocatalysts allowing for mechanism-based optimization at the molecular level. We have discovered interesting phenomena including ligand-mediated electron transfer, beyond two-electron reduction via a domino process, and reversible restructuring under reaction conditions. We have also designed reactors to enhance electrochemical performance, study surface/interface phenomena, and perform thermodynamically challenging reactions.

Bio: Wang's research employs chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology and surface science to tackle the challenges in electrochemical energy storage and conversion. The research activities involve exploration of novel chemistry and materials for high-density energy storage, development of catalysis for high-rate and high-efficiency energy conversion, and investigation of fundamental structure-property correlations and chemical processes in electrochemical devices.

Wang holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University and was a Philomathia Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2012-2014.

Host: Professor Jie Liu