When a results in the production of a novel concept for technology solutions to support energy and climate issues, while also sharing resources and data between higher education institutions in Virginia and providing faculty and student research opportunities, it is a win for all involved.听

This was achieved following 4-VA鈥檚 approval of a proposal by George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 , an assistant professor in the , for a grant titled 鈥淣anoscale Visualization of Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction Activity at Cu Nanocatalysts.鈥澨
Yu鈥檚 goal was to investigate options in catalytic electrode materials to improve and enhance electrocatalysis, a process essential for harnessing sustainable energy sources for artificial photosynthesis. While nanostructures are currently recognized as the most successful catalyst for many chemical reactions, there is more to understand about tailoring their crystalline planes to improve activity and selectivity.听
Yu wanted to gain deeper insights into various nanocatalysts used in carbon removal technologies. The conventional approach to conducting this study often involves measuring the entire catalyst, composed of numerous small particles with varying sizes and shapes. However, critical information, such as the impact of heterogeneities on performance, is often lost in such ensemble measurements.听
Yu saw the potential for leveraging the nanoscale scanning electrochemical microscopy at George Mason to obtain detailed surface reactivity maps of nanocatalysts. However, to do so, Yu needed to acquire shape-controlled nanostructures, including copper nanowires, copper nanocubes, and nickel鈥搃ron layered nanosheets.听 He did so through a partnership with Sen Zhang, associate professor of chemistry at the 麻豆国产 of Virginia.听

Yu鈥檚 team鈥攇raduate student Dan Tran and undergraduate students Solyip Kim, Melissa Nguyen, and Mackenzie Dickinson鈥攑layed a key role in the project, receiving funding and real-world research experience. Together, they identified furfural reduction, an important reaction for sustainable biofuel generation, and they noted a distinct contrast in activity between copper and graphite support.
鈥淭hese preliminary experiments have demonstrated the viability of our scanning electrochemical technique in spatially resolving catalytic activity across nanoscopic structures,鈥 said Yu. They further expanded the application to the study of nickel鈥搃ron catalysts.
鈥溌槎构 data suggested that adding trace amount of cerium oxide to the catalysts significantly enhances water oxidation activity. We would not have these insights without this powerful electroanalytical technique,鈥 said Yu.听听
The initial results have provided Yu with a springboard to develop external grant proposals to systematically study the role of cerium oxide and quantify the effects of its loading on the apparent catalytic activity of the developed catalysts.听
鈥淭his 4-VA opportunity allowed us to create a partnership with UVA, create a team to implement further investigation via George Mason鈥檚 nanoscale scanning electrochemical microscopy, and now apply for further funding to move this project forward,鈥 Yu said.听
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