Exploring Our Research

Electrochemical Catalysis

Electrochemical catalysis powered by renewable electricity plays an essential role in tackling environmental challenges and addressing global energy crises. Over recent decades, significant advancements have been achieved in key areas including water splitting, CO2 reduction, N2 fixation, and nitrate remediation. The activity and selectivity of these processes are heavily influenced by the complex interplay between electrolyte and electrode properties, where critical questions remain unanswered and optimizations are yet to be achieved.

In this direction, we aim to advance the fundamental and mechanistic understandings of electrocatalysis by precisely tuning the properties of electrolytes in both aqueous and nonaqueous systems.

In situ Interfacial Spectroscopy

Heterogeneous catalysis, including most electrocatalysis, occurs at the interfaces between two media, such as a solid electrode and a liquid electrolyte. Therefore, in order to fully understand these catalytic processes, it is crucial to directly inspect interfacial properties and track chemical events at the molecular level under in situ, or even operando conditions.

In this direction, we focus on developing systematic methods to investigate interfacial properties, such as interfacial electric field and solvent molecules rearrangement, through the combination of probe molecules and a variety of advanced spectroscopic tools.