Research

The utilization of green-house gases (GHG) and decarbonization of chemical manufacture contributes to closing the anthropogenic carbon cycle. The electrochemical reduction is a promising strategy to fulfill this goal by converting GHG to fuels and value-added feedstocks using renewable electricity. However, today’s low selectivity, efficiency, and stability of electrocatalytic materials and systems at high current densities curtail system energy efficiency, limiting their prospects for economic competitiveness. Therefore, we focus on studying materials, devices, and systems, enabling GHG electrochemical upgrading to be operated under commercially relevant efficiency, capacity, and conversion. We conduct the research in 3 dimensions:
1. We research the fundamentals of electrolysis.
	We are interested in understanding the catalytic interfaces. In this direction, our efforts are concentrated on revealing the impacts of catalyst surfaces and reaction environments. We particularly focus on those factors determining whether industrially relevant performance metrics can be achieved.
2. We develop catalysts for GHG valorization.
Our catalyst development is driven by the latest fundamental understandings. Our previous works have demonstrated the impact of catalyst electronic structures and surface properties, including facets and mass transfer, on the activity and selectivity of nitrate reduction and CO2 conversion. In the Wang Group, we continue to exploit strategies to modulate catalysts at the molecular and atom levels. We hope to answer challenging questions, including near-unity CO2-to-C2H4 Faradaic efficiency and CH4 electrochemical activation.
3. We build powerful electrocatalytic reactors.
	Designing reactors for practical electrolysis is what we are always pursuing. We passionate about increasing the energy efficiency of electrocatalytic processes. We strive to make electrocatalytic processes less energy-intensive. Our current focus in building reactors includes carbonate-free approaches for CO2 electroreduction and crazy system engineering allowing for CH4 activation and coulping.