Enhance the fundamental understanding of the structure of electrode-electrolyte interfaces and their response to applied voltages and imposed currents. Perform high resolution Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments and analyze them in collaboration with a theory and molecular simulation PhD-colleague at Leiden University and with your colleagues in the Physics of Complex Fluids (PCF) and Photocatalytic Synthesis groups (PCS) at the University of Twente.
Electrochemical processes play a major role in the current energy transition. They make batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers work. Despite this importance, the properties of electrode-electrolyte interfaces are at present rather poorly understood because they are extremely difficult to characterize at the molecular scale. Electrochemical (EC) AFM bares the promise to combine atomic scale imaging with force spectroscopy to probe the structure of these interfaces and their response to EC reaction conditions (think of changes in the hydration structure, ion adsorption, and surface reconstruction). However, the interpretation of such measurements remains tentative without detailed modeling. In the current project, Prof. Mugele’s PCF group in Twente and Prof. Doblhoff-Dier’s Theoretical Electrochemistry group in Leiden team up to combine high resolution AFM experiments (PhD 1, University of Twente) and atomistic modelling (PhD 2, Leiden University) to address these challenges. Next to your AFM measurement at PCF, you can also explore the fabrication and characterization of catalyst nanoparticles with Prof. Mul’s PCS group.
