Maureen Tang, an associate professor at Drexel University, joins forces with researchers from the University of California, San Diego, to spearhead an innovative project funded by the National Science Foundation.
Their goal is to develop cutting-edge catalysts to enhance the production of hydrogen fuel. Operating under the NSF’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, this initiative seeks to pave the way for more efficient methods of producing clean hydrogen fuel.
The project, named “Dynamic Ferroelectric Support Interactions to Transform Hydrogen Electrocatalysis,” seeks to revolutionize how catalyst surfaces are designed. By focusing on thin catalyst layers positioned on ferroelectric supports, the team aims to demonstrate varying binding energies for essential reaction intermediates during water electrocatalysis. This innovative method is poised to transform current hydrogen production processes significantly.
Traditional catalysts tend to work in a steady state. However, this project explores the potential of dynamic catalysts by oscillating the polarization of ferroelectric materials. This approach promises to dynamically control the surface’s binding energy, possibly leading to hydrogen turnover rates that surpass those achievable with conventional steady-state catalysts.
A comprehensive research strategy will drive the project. It combines computational design, surface science, and experimental validation. Maureen Tang’s team will validate computational designs and probe the polling and switching mechanisms of these dynamic catalysts. They will utilize time-dependent microkinetic modeling alongside density functional theory and machine learning to forecast surface energies and identify transition state barriers.
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