The chair "Atomic-scale Characterisation" is studying materials at the atomic level. High entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles have attracted increasing interest in catalyzing heterogeneous solid-liquid reactions. However, the fundamental insights into the interplay of reactivity, structure and composition of HEA electrocatalyst surfaces are far less understood. In particular, it remains challenging to characterize surface compositional and structural changes on the HEA nanoparticles due to complexity induced by multiple elements. This knowledge gap prevents their application for new sustainable energy conversion and storage applications.
In this project, the successful candidate will synthesis high entropy alloy nanoparticles for water electrocatalysis or fuel cell applications (hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution or reduction reaction). Afterward, the candidate will characterize these nanoparticles by a combination of high-end spectroscopy and microscopy techniques such as atom probe tomography, aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy etc. The three-dimensional surface and internal structure and chemistry of catalyst nanoparticles will be revealed, with single atom sensitivity, before and after service. This atomic-scale information will provide a rational guide to nano-engineering catalysts in order to develop cost-effective and high efficiency sustainable energy sources.
