Electrocatalysis for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing and Defluorination of Forever Chemicals

Electrocatalysis presents a transformative opportunity for producing chemicals and consumer goods sustainably by replacing fossil fuel-based processes with energy-efficient technologies powered by renewable sources. This method also shows significant promise in addressing the global challenge of remediating per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water. Viable electrocatalytic processes must use nonprecious materials, operate in aqueous environments, consume minimal energy, and effectively eliminate harmful chemicals, necessitating a deep understanding of mechanisms and the strategic design of nanocatalysts with controlled properties.

Our research employs pulsed laser in liquids synthesis to develop nanocatalysts with precise surface chemistries, facilitating a quantitative understanding of electrocatalytic processes, especially within the electrode microenvironment. We have demonstrated that laser-made earth-abundant mixed-metal nanocatalysts on high-surface-area carbon supports can selectively electrooxidize toluene to benzyl alcohol with high activity. Additionally, we achieved complete defluorination of various PFAS in aqueous electrolytes using laser-synthesized bimetallic nanocatalysts.

The unifying theme of our group is to advance the design and fabrication of nanocatalysts for the electrocatalytic generation of reactive species from water, aimed at sustainable applications. This work is based on a detailed atomistic understanding of catalyst materials, electrode microenvironments, and electrocatalytic mechanisms, with the ultimate goal of promoting environmentally friendly and scalable solutions for chemical manufacturing and water remediation.