Physical Chemistry Seminar | Professor Tim Lian (University of Pennsylvania)
MIT, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
Electrode-Induction Effects and Plasmon-Driven mode-selective Adsorbate Excitation Professor Tianquan (Tim) Lian Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania Abstract: Attaching molecular catalysts on (photo-) electrodes offers a promising approach for modular and rational design of hybrid catalysts for (photo-) electrochemical transformations. The design and improvement of such hybrid catalysts require fundamental understanding of the structure and microenvironment of catalysts, interfacial field, and adsorbate-electrode interaction as well as their effects on adsorbate/catalysts excited state dynamics. To probe these electrode-adsorbate interactions at the molecular level, we have been developing and applying time-resolved vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as in situ interface specific/sensitive vibrational spectroscopic tools. In this talk, I will discuss two recent studies in this area. 1) Electro-induction effect. We have observed large electrochemical-Stark effect of adsorbed molecules and molecular CO2 reduction catalysts. Through combined experimental and theoretical studies, we show that the…