Our Research Mission
Scientists in Brookhaven's Chemistry Division conduct basic and applied chemical research with an emphasis on new energy conversion pathways.
Primary research subjects include catalysis and electrocatalysis for sustainable fuel synthesis and use, solar energy conversion to fuels, fundamental gas and condensed phase molecular dynamics, radiation chemistry, and advanced chemical separations for energy applications. Fundamental studies of neutrino properties are also conducted in several international collaborations in nuclear and particle physics.
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NOV
5
Monday
Chemistry Department Seminar
"Synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy for In Situ and Operando Studies of Nanoporous Catalysts"
Presented by Kirill A. Lomachenko, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France, France
11 am, Room 300, Chemistry Bldg. 555
Monday, November 5, 2018, 11:00 am
Hosted by: Sanjaya Senanayake
X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has proven to be a very powerful tool for rationalization of catalytic processes because of the possibility to determine oxidation state and coordination geometry of catalytically active species in operando regime. The seminar will be focused on the advanced facilities for chemical XAS studies available at BM23 and ID24 beamlines of the ESRF synchrotron, which allow to exploit simultaneously a wide range of complementary techniques, make use of flexible sample environment, and obtain high-quality data in the timescale from minutes down to milliseconds. As a case study, recent work on the investigation of the local environment and electronic structure of the active centers of Cu-zeolites in deNOx and methane-to-methanol processes will be discussed.
Artificial Photosynthesis
Advances fundamental knowledge of chemical systems to convert sunlight to viable chemical fuels, inspired by natural photosynthesis, in which green plants convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbohydrates.
Catalysis: Reactivity and Structure
Pursues an improved understanding of chemical catalysis for advanced fuels synthesis and energy conversion processes by elucidating catalytically important properties of well-defined surfaces, powders and nanostructures.
Electrochemical Energy Storage
Conducts research on both fundamental and applied problems relating to electrochemical energy storage systems and materials including lithium-ion, lithium-air, lithium-sulfur, and sodium-ion rechargeable batteries; electrochemical super-capacitors; and cathode, anode, and electrolyte materials.
Electron- and Photo-Induced Processes
Applies both photoexcitation and ionization by short pulses of fast electrons to investigate fundamental chemical problems relevant to the production and efficient use of energy
Gas Phase Molecular Dynamics
Develops and applies high resolution spectroscopic and quantum theoretic tools to study the structure, dynamics, and chemical reactivity of molecular species relevant to hydrocarbon combustion.
Neutrino and Nuclear Chemistry
Participates in international collaborations including Low Energy Neutrino Spectroscopy (LENS), "SNO+", the Daya Bay neutrino experiment, and the long-baseline neutrino experiment (LBNE)
Surface Chemical Dynamics
Works to understand the underlying physical processes that determine the products and yield of chemical transformations relevant to energy-related chemistry on catalytic and nanostructured surfaces.
Surface Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis
Explores problems of electrocatalysis of fuel cell reactions focusing on platinum monolayer (PtML) electrocatalysts for the O2 reduction reaction, the electrocatalysts for ethanol and methanol oxidation to CO2, H2 evolution and H2 oxidation reactions.
Structure and Dynamics of Applied Nanomaterials
Studies mechanisms of work of advanced functional nanomaterials by elucidating the nature of their active species by situ/operando methods of spectroscopy, scattering and imaging.
The Chemistry Division is part of Brookhaven National Laboratory's Energy & Photon Sciences Directorate.
