(6cv) Engineering Electrocatalysts for Sustainable Energy Technologies: From Theory to Rational Design through in-Situ Characterization

Engineering Electrocatalysts for
Sustainable Energy Technologies: From Theory to Rational Design through In-Situ
Characterization

Mohammad
Norouzi Banis

Department
of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London,
Ontario, Canada

Research Interests:

The ever-increasing
demand for energy and the excessive dependence on depleting fossil fuel
reserves has resulted in two major challenges; a shortage of energy and serious
environmental pollution (including high CO₂ concentration). CO₂
electrochemical reduction (CER) technology has attracted considerable attention
in recent years and is believed to be a viable route capable of addressing
these challenges by producing chemical fuels while reducing CO₂
emissions. However, the development of CER technologies face several issues,
originating from: (i) insufficient fundamental
understanding of the underling mechanisms and behaviour of material in their
working environment, and (ii) difficulties related to the fabrication of
materials at the molecular and nanoscale level.

Combining theoretical
studies (such as DFT modeling) and advanced characterization techniques
(including in-situ/ex-situ synchrotron-based methods - XAS, XES, CT) with novel
material designs can provide the breakthroughs required for the advancement of
energy industries including CER technologies. This approach can provide a
detailed picture of the electronic, chemical, and atomic structure of the
materials in their working environment. 
Subsequently, the study and correlation between the performances of
nanomaterials in CER systems with their various properties can provide a road
map for the development of efficient electrocatalysts.

Successful Proposals:

(1)    Canadian Light Source Beamtime Proposals:
Over 20 Beamtime proposals accepted – Granted ~40% of beamtime in July –
December 2018 in three beamlines with more than 1000 hours of beamtime

(2)    Advanced Photon Source Beamtime Proposal:
PNC beamline - In-situ study of electrochemical energy conversion systems – 96
hours

(3)    Co-authored NSERC Discover Grants:

a.      Design
and development of 3D nanowire-based composite electrodes for Low-Cost and
High-Performance PEM Fuel Cells - over 100,000 CAD

b.      Atomically
precise cluster Pt-based electrocatalysts with ultra-low loading and extremely
high stability for PEM fuel cells – 500,000 CAD

Postdoctoral Projects:

(1)   
In-situ soft XAS:
Understanding the underlying mechanisms of charge/discharge processes in Na-O₂
batteries

(2)   
Design and
development of novel interfaces of cathode/sulfide solid-state electrolyte:
Revealing the nature of interfacial resistance in solid-state batteries

(3)   
Single atom
catalysts through ALD: Modeling and experimental study of the behaviour of
noble single atom catalysts for fuel cell reactions

PhD Dissertation:

“Controlled synthesis of
one dimensional nanostructured materials and their applications as catalyst
supports in proton exchange membrane fuel cells”

US Patent. US20120241192 A1: M. Cai; X. Sun; Y.
Zhang; M.N. Banis; and R. Li
(2012) Microfiber supported metal silicide nanowires.

Research Experience:

My research career
revolves around multidisciplinary collaboration with various researchers and
industries for energy storage and conversion systems. Through these
collaborations, I have gathered valuable tools ranging from the design of
synthetic processes and advanced characterization techniques to theoretical
calculations. My research has been mainly focused on understanding the
correlation between the electronic and atomic structure of electrocatalysts and
their performance in PEMFCs and next-generation batteries.

I have developed a strong
background in the application of vapor deposition methods such as atomic layer
deposition (in collaboration with General Motors) and magnetron sputtering (in
collaboration with Ballard and Canadian Space Agency) for the controlled
synthesis of nanomaterials and thin films. As a materials scientist, I have
worked extensively on the application advanced characterization techniques for
energy-related materials with a focus on synchrotron-based methods. I have
developed close collaborations with various national and international
laboratories including Advanced Photon Source and Canadian Light Source, where
I developed various setups for the in-situ study of electrocatalysts in their
working environment. Furthermore, with intensive training, I have become
proficient in Density Functional Theory and XAS fitting and modeling, which
have contributed to over 60 authored and co-authored publications. 

Teaching Interests:  

Over the course of my
research career, I have been extensively involved in the teaching and mentoring
of graduate and undergraduate students. As a graduate student, I was a teaching
assistant for several courses including Kinematics/Dynamics and corrosion. I
also was a guest lecturer in the introduction to Nanomaterials course, teaching
second and third year undergraduate students in the engineering faculty. I was
further involved in the development and revision of the curriculum and provided
students with support for the end of course projects.

As a postdoctoral fellow
and research scientist, I organized annual and semi-annual workshops on the
application of advanced synchrotron-based techniques in material science. I
developed course material and taught over 50 graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows the (1) Fundamentals of X-ray absorption spectroscopy, (2) Principles
of EXAFS modeling and fitting and (3) Introduction to X-ray diffraction
experiments and data analysis.

In my role as a faculty
member, I am interested in teaching undergraduate and graduate introductory and
advanced courses in topics related to catalysis, material science and
mechanical engineering which align well with my research experience. I also
plan to create courses on characterization techniques for materials scientists
and chemical engineers covering techniques used in research and industry.

Future Direction:

As
a faculty member, I would like to continue my work in understanding the
correlation between the properties of unique materials and their performance in
energy-related applications. In particular, I would
like to combine theoretical studies with novel in-situ characterization
techniques that I have designed to develop low cost, highly active catalysts
for CO₂ electrochemical reduction with good control over the product
selectivity.

Initially, I will
continue my post-doctoral work on the development of single and double atom
catalyst for application in CER technologies. I intend to establish a lab for
the synthesis and characterization of single atom catalysts through my unique
atomic layer deposition-based method and widely reported solution-based
processes. Additionally, in collaboration with other researchers, with
extensive theoretical modeling and advanced characterization (XAS, XES, XPS) in
various research institutes and laboratories, I will develop a general
guideline for the application of sub-nanometer catalytic (single atom) CER
processes.

Benefiting from my
approach towards selection, characterization and implementation of nano/sub nanostructured electrocatalysts, I plan to expand
my research towards other electrochemical based energy conversion/storage
systems.

My main goal is to build
a world-leading multidisciplinary group in the area of
advanced characterization and large-scale implementation of nanostructured
materials as solutions to the challenges in energy applications. This will
provide me with ample opportunities to collaborate with researchers of
different backgrounds while contributing to my university and community.

Selected Publication (over 60
authored, co-authored)       h-index: 33,
i10-index:44

Ø  M.
N. Banis,
H. Yadegari, Q. Sun, T. Regier, T. Boyko, J. Zhou, Y. M. Yiu, R. Li, Y. Hu, T. K.
Sham, X. Sun, Revealing the charge/discharge mechanism of Na-O₂
cells by in situ soft X-ray absorption spectrsocopy, Energy &
Environmental Science, 2018

Ø  M.
N. Banis,
H. Yadegari, A. Lushington, Q. Sun, R. Y. Li, T. K. Sham and X. Sun, A
bifunctional solid state catalyst with enhanced cycling stability for Na and
Li-O₂ cells: revealing the role of solid state catalysts. Energy & Environmental Science,
2017, 10, 286-295.    

Ø  M.
N. Banis,
Y. Zhang, Q. F. Xiao, M. Cai, R. Y. Li and X. Sun, Tailoring of Single-Crystalline
Complex Ta5Si3 Nanostructures: From Networked Nanowires to Nanosheets. Crystal Growth & Design, 2014, 14, 436-441.                  

Ø  M.
N. Banis,
S. Sun, X. Meng, Y. Zhang, Z. Wang, R. Li, M. Cai, T. K. Sham and X. Sun, TiSi₂O_x
Coated N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes as Pt Catalyst Support for the Oxygen
Reduction Reaction in PEMFCs. Journal of
Physical Chemistry C, 2013, 117,
15457-15467.    

Ø  M.
N. Banis,
X. Meng, Y. Zhang, M. Cai, R. Li and X. Sun, Spatially Sequential Growth of
Various WSi₂ Networked Nanostructures and Mechanisms. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2013, 117, 19189-19194.

Ø  M.
N. Banis, Y.
Zhang, R. Li, X. Sun, X. Jian and D. Nikanpour, Vanadium oxide assisted
synthesis of networked silicon oxide nanowires and their growth dependence. Particuology, 2011, 9, 458-464.

Ø  M.
N. Banis,
Y. Zhang, H. N. Banis, R. Li, X. Sun, X. Jian and D. Nikanpour, Controlled
synthesis and characterization of single crystalline MnO nanowires and Mn–Si
oxide heterostructures by vapor phase deposition. Chemical Physics Letters, 2011, 501, 470-474.

Ø  N.
Cheng, S. Stambula, D. Wang, M. N. Banis, J. Liu, A. Riese, B. Xiao, R.
Li, T. K. Sham, L. M. Liu, G. A. Botton and X. Sun, Platinum single-atom and
cluster catalysis of the hydrogen evolution reaction. Nature Communcations, 2016, 7, 13638.

Ø  N.
Cheng, M. Norouzi Banis, J. Liu, A. Riese, S. Mu, R. Li, T.-K. Sham and
X. Sun, Atomic scale enhancement of metal–support interactions between Pt and
ZrC for highly stable electrocatalysts. Energy
& Environental Science, 2015, 8, 1450-1455.                

Ø  J.
J. Wang, J. L. Yang, Y. J. Tang, J. Liu, Y. Zhang, G. X. Liang, M. Gauthier, Y.
C. K. Chen-Wiegart, M. N. Banis, X. F. Li, R. Y. Li, J. Wang, T. K. Sham
and X. Sun, Size-dependent surface phase change of lithium iron phosphate
during carbon coating. Nature
Communications, 2014, 5,
8.