Faculty Recruiting Seminar - Zhifei Yan

Electrochemistry is a growing approach for chemical transformation and renewable energy storage. Achieving high efficiency and selectivity in electrochemical reactions requires effective management of both electron transfer and ion transport processes. In this presentation, I will first introduce ion transport within bipolar membranes (BPMs), a promising strategy for creating asymmetric pH conditions in a single electrochemical device. We developed an operando electrochemical technique to probe the microenvironment at the BPM/cathode interface in a CO2 electrolyzer, identifying the first electron transfer as the rate-determining step. Next, we explored BPMs in a reversible acid-base redox flow battery, where we uncovered the critical role of interfacial catalysis and electric field. Finally, using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, we investigated the electron transfer pathway and kinetics during the photo-oxidation of carbonate species in nonaqueous environments.