Heterogeneous redox catalysis is critical across the entire chemical value. Contemporary renewable and waste feedstocks are often non-volatile, requiring that catalysis occur at solid-liquid interfaces. Charge transfer reactions at solid-liquid interfaces is known to be essential for driving electrochemical reactions, but their role in determining the efficiency and selectivity of thermochemical redox catalysis is poorly understood. Even when a metal catalyst is not wired to an external circuit, spontaneous charge transfer reactions across the solid-liquid interface can polarize the surface and generate large oriented electric fields. We have developed general methods for tracking the degree of interfacial polarization during thermochemical reactions and have used this approach to understand thermochemical reactivity from an electrochemical perspective. We have found that many net thermochemical reactions proceed as coupled electrochemical half reactions and that the degree of interfacial polarization varies dynamically in real-time to optimize the energy landscape of catalysis. These findings providing a unique bridge between the traditionally disparate fields of thermochemical and electrochemical catalysis.

Dynamic band-mediated redox catalysis

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.