Research Directions
Research Topic I: Hydrogen Energy - Modification and Development of High efficiency Catalysts for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Anodes and Cathodes.
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are electrochemical devices that directly convert chemical energy from hydrogen and air into electrical energy. They are clean and efficient power sources that can be widely applied in vehicles, mobile devices, and consumer electronics (3C products). However, the commercialization of fuel cells is often hindered by limitations in catalyst reaction kinetics and the high cost of catalyst materials.
In light of these challenges, our laboratory focuses on research related to fuel cells, including the preparation, modification, and development of binary, ternary, and non-platinum nanomaterial catalysts for both the cathode and anode. We investigate the relationship between their surface composition and activity, aiming to develop high-performance catalysts for fuel cells and accelerate the commercialization of this technology.
Research Topic II: Surface Properties and Segregation Studies of Nano-Alloy Nanocrystals.
Nano materials possess high surface area and surface energy, with approximately 50% of surface atoms in a 2 nm nanocrystal. Alloy nanocrystals often exhibit surface segregation and compositional heterogeneity phenomena. The surface composition is greatly influenced by the fabrication process and various thermodynamic factors. Therefore, mastering the surface properties of nanomaterials allows for control over their properties and applications.
In our laboratory, we employ chemical methods to synthesize alloy nanocrystals containing precious metals and transition metals. We systematically study the relationship between their surface composition, processing, properties, and catalytic activity. Through the use of instrumental analysis, we observe phenomena such as composition diffusion, alloying, dealloying, and segregation. Our goal is to conduct in-depth research on the surface composition and thermal properties of alloy nanocrystals, providing theoretical insights for the application of nanomaterials.
Research Topic III: Electrochemical Water Splitting for Hydrogen Production.
Hydrogen is considered an ideal clean energy source that can potentially mitigate the limited reserves of fossil fuels and the pollution caused by their combustion. Therefore, electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production (HER) is an important pathway towards reducing environmental pollution and achieving renewable clean energy. The development of efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts holds significant scientific and practical value.
Platinum (Pt) is a traditional HER catalyst but faces challenges due to its high cost, limited availability, and poor reaction stability.
Palladium (Pd) has received considerable attention as a potential alternative to Pt in HER catalysis. The performance of Pd-based catalysts can be significantly enhanced by introducing a second metal (M) to form Pd-based alloys (Pd-M) or by incorporating hydrogen into the Pd lattice to form Pd hydrides (PdHx).
Therefore, in our laboratory, we study the correlation between the structure and performance of various hydrogen production catalysts, with a focus on Pd-based systems. We investigate the effects of alloying and hydride formation on the catalytic performance, aiming to develop highly efficient and stable catalysts for hydrogen evolution.
Research Topic IV: Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide.
By electrochemically converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into value-added fuels and chemicals using renewable energy sources, we can mitigate the increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Therefore, our laboratory focuses on the synthesis of various materials to enhance the selectivity of CO2 reduction products while minimizing the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and improving Faradaic efficiency (FE).
