Dr. Yingjie Zhang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Seminar Title: "Liquid structure at electrochemical interfaces"
Host: Anne Co, co.5@osu.edu
ABSTRACT:
The structure of solid-liquid interfaces is critical for a large range of systems, including electrochemical energy conversion and storage, corrosion control, water purification, biological signal transduction, and more. However, our understanding of these interfaces remains highly limited. Existing theory and experimental tools have shed light on the structure of solid surfaces; in contrast, the configuration and distribution of molecular and charged species of interfacial liquids remain elusive. The problem becomes more challenging in realistic systems where the solid surfaces inevitably contain various heterogeneities, such as vacancies, step edges and surface corrugations. In this talk, I will discuss our recent efforts on experimental and theoretical investigations of liquid structure at solid-liquid interfaces. Using in situ 3D atomic force microscopy and surface-sensitive vibrational spectroscopy, we have experimentally determined the structure of a diverse set of solvents and electrolytes near flat, homogeneous and rough/heterogeneous solid surfaces. Furthermore, we have developed a statistical mechanics-based model to both explain the experimental results and predict liquid structures near solid surfaces with arbitrary morphologies. At the end, I will discuss how the liquid structures may modulate the electrochemical reaction dynamics.
BIO:
Dr. Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Science and Technology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2015, and started his lab at UIUC in 2019. His current research focuses on in situ characterization of solid-liquid interfaces, electrocatalysis, and chemical imaging of biological cells. He has received several young investigator research awards, such as the ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award in 2019, the Beckman Young Investigator Award from the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation in 2021, and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2024.
