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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OCT
21
Monday
Center for Functional Nanomaterials Seminar
"Heterogeneous Chemistry at Liquid/Vapor Interfaces Investigated with Photoelectron Spectroscopy"
Presented by Hendrik Bluhm, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faradayweg, Berlin, Germany
11 am, Bldg.735 (CFN) 1st floor conference room
Monday, October 21, 2019, 11:00 am
Hosted by: Ashley Head
Aqueous solution/vapor interfaces govern important phenomena in the environment and atmosphere, including the uptake and release of trace gases by aerosols and CO2 sequestration by the oceans.[1] A detailed understanding of these processes requires the investigation of liquid/vapor interfaces with chemical sensitivity and interface specificity under ambient conditions, i.e., temperatures above 200 K and water vapour pressures in the millibar to tens of millibar pressure range. This talk will discuss opportunities and challenges for investigations of liquid/vapor interfaces using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and describe some recent experiments that have focused on the propensity of certain ions and the role of surfactants at the liquid/vapor interface. [1] O. Björneholm et al., Chem. Rev. 116, 7698 (2016).
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
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.
Catalysis for Alternative Fuels Production
Understanding and developing metal carbides and bimetallic alloys as catalysts and electrocatalysts through combined theoretical and experimental approaches over model surfaces and supported catalysts. Investigating structural and electronic properties of catalysts using in situ synchrotron techniques.
The Chemistry Division is part of Brookhaven National Laboratory's Energy & Photon Sciences Directorate.
