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In situ X-ray Studies of Functional Oxides for Energy Systems

Date:
-
Location:
CP179
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s):
Seo-Hyoung Chang (Argonne National Laboratory)
Functional oxides and their interfaces offer new opportunities to overcome the 
current limits of energy storage and conversion systems, e.g., water dissociation 
and formation. However, the understanding of complex oxide interfaces and 
their electrochemical properties is far from complete, particularly with regard to 
electronic and ionic dynamics occurring in aqueous solutions or ionic liquids under 
applied electric fields. To elucidate the physical and electrocatalytic properties 
of oxide surfaces and interfaces, it is necessary to build a model system and to 
employ in situ experimental tools to detect and analyze the complex time-dependent 
phenomena. In this talk, I will introduce recent in situ synchrotron studies [1,2] 
conducted at Argonne National Laboratory that combine structural, spectroscopic, 
and electrochemical characterization on model systems, e.g., epitaxial perovskite 
or layered oxide thin films. With this methodology, we can determine both the 
reactivity and stability of active sites on complex oxide surfaces during water 
dissociation and formation. This approach offers much needed insight into the 
electrocatalytic properties of oxide interfaces and provides new strategies for the 
creation of new stable and active energy materials designed at the atomic level. 
 
[1] S. H. Chang et al., ACS Nano 8, 1584 (2014). 
[2] S. H. Chang et al., Nature Commun. 5, 4191 (2014).
Event Series: