Our Research Topics

Guiding Principles for Research

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself--and you are the easiest person to fool. So you have to be very careful about that. After you've not fooled yourself, it's easy not to fool other scientists. You just have to be honest in a conventional way after that.
It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong.

— Prof. Richard Feynman

Time-Resolved Operando Electrochemistry

The electrochemical interface is where the electron transfer occurs between the electrode, electrocatalyst, and electrolyte. Understanding the interface reveals the structure-property relationship of electrocatalysts. In situ techniques are helpful to study the interface.

Our topic

  • Real-time monitoring of structural and morphological evolution in electrocatalysts during long-term operation, and its implications for activity and selectivity
  • Operando differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy (DEMS), high-speed UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry, and electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM)

Related publications

Electrocatalyst Design and Degradation

Electrocatalysts are materials that can promote electrochemical conversion at a fixed potential. For optimal efficiency, the materials must have a suitable surface atomic configuration and adsorption energy to achieve both good activity and stability. The rational design of active sites is the best way to achieve this.

Our topic

  • Chemical and electrochemical degradation of electrocatalyst/electrode during electrochemical reaction
  • Transition-metal-based electrocatalyst for highly selective ammonia electrooxidation and water electrolysis

Related publications

Fundamental Electrochemistry Methods

Electrochemical results may be misleading if incorrect concepts or inappropriate experimental procedures are employed. Careful examination of all details and standardization of data processing steps with open-access tools (such as Python) are crucial for obtaining a reliable understanding.

Our topic

  • Python as an open-access toolset for electrochemical data analysis and standardization
  • Fundamental discussion of misleading concepts related to electrochemical analysis

Related publications