[E&E seminars] Tomorrow - Marc Koper - Fundamental studies of catalytic electron transfer reactions for energy conversion and sustainable chemistry

[MIT Energy Initiative]

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Fundamental studies of catalytic electron transfer reactions for energy
conversion and sustainable chemistry



Marc Koper

Professor of Fundamental Surface Science, Leiden University

Tuesday, May 10

4:15 PM

Room 66-110



 Abstract



Electrocatalysis is the field of catalysis concerned with catalytic
conversions involving electron transfer, typically taking place at
metal-electrolyte of oxide-electrolyte interfaces. Such catalytic
electron transfer reactions are crucially important for fuel cells, the
production of "solar fuels", and the catalytic treatment of
contaminated water. In this talk, I will show that by a combination of
well-defined electrode surfaces, in situ spectroscopy, and
first-principles density functional theory calculations, one can obtain
insight into the mechanism of these reactions, both in terms of
activity and selectivity. Examples that I will discuss include the
oxidation of carbon monoxide, the oxidation of small alcohols, the
reduction of carbon dioxide, and the reduction of nitric oxide, on
metal electrodes such as platinum, gold and copper.



About the speaker



Marc Koper (1967) studied chemistry at Utrecht University, and obtained
his PhD (cum laude) with Prof. J.H.Sluyters from Utrecht University in
1994 on "Far-from-equilibrium phenomena in electrochemical systems:
instabilities, oscillations and chaos". From 1995 to 1997 he was a
postdoctoral Marie Curie Fellow in the group of Prof. W.Schmickler at
the University of Ulm (Germany). In 1997, he returned to the
Netherlands to join the group of Prof. R.A. van Santen at Eindhoven
University of Technology, where he initially was a Fellow of the Royal
Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and later associate professor.
In 2005, he was appointed full professor in fundamental surface science
at Leiden University. His interests are in electrochemistry,
electrocatalysis, (electrochemical) surface science, and theoretical
and computational (electro-)chemistry.



The Seminar Series is made possible with the generous support of
IHS-CERA





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