Visualizing Dynamics—A Role for Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy in Energy Science

Abstract: The climate crisis is driving a new era of electrification around the globe.  The decarbonization of transportation and industrial processes is expected to make a significant impact on the rate of climate change.  For example, the electrification of refineries and the broader chemical industry has the potential to lead to major reductions in fossil fuel consumption and lower the production of harmful greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.  New components including electrode materials and electrolytes are being discovered quickly and are necessary to engineer functional devices for supporting large scale electrification goals.  However, our understanding of fundamental processes and driving forces that are common across classes of components needed in functional devices is lagging.  In order to predict and tune behaviors of electrolytes or electrodes, for example, we must work to determine behaviors that may apply more broadly across these components.  To gain insights into the nature of electrolytes, electrodes, and the interplay between them, the Krummel Research group uses ultrafast spectroscopy and imaging experiments to characterize components required in devices needed to achieve electrification goals.  In this seminar, I will present snapshots of our recent work regarding electrolytes, electrodes, and an imaging platform we have developed to image chemistry taking place in electrochemical cells.  In each case, I will connect molecular level details available from our ultrafast spectroscopy and imaging experiments to mesoscale behaviors relevant in technologies important for meeting electrification goals to combat climate change.