(653a) Techniques for the Examination of Aqueous and Nonaqueous Electrocatalytic N2 Reduction
AIChE Annual Meeting
2022
2022 Annual Meeting
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division
Nitrogen Chemistry: Electrocatalytic N2 reduction
Thursday, November 17, 2022 - 3:30pm to 3:48pm
Herein, we review our efforts at SUNCAT to search for aqueous N2RR electrocatalysts, and we emphasize our recent work to improve our understanding of Li-mediated N2RR by developing complementary tools for operando interrogation of electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Among these tools, we are actively developing operando, time-resolved, neutron reflectometry as well as operando X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The neutron-based methods are inherently sensitive to Li and amorphous layers and serve as a complement to XRD methods that offer superior compositional insight for crystalline products. We have used them to observe the growth of apparent Li-rich SEI layers on one-minute timescales under applied current and under varying electrolyte conditions, opening an avenue to understand how changing electrolyte and potential/current conditions dictate the growth rate and composition of SEI layer formation from initial ât = 0 sâ conditions. Finally, we will discuss our recent exploration of directed chemical modification of the N2RR SEI layer using inorganic additives to attempt to exert control over the SEI and improve N2RR performance.