Interfacial Processes in (Photo-) Electrochemistry in Reduced Gravitational Environments (IPERG)

The design and synthesis of energy efficient (photo-)electrochemical interfaces with tailored properties for accelerating and directing chemical transformations are key to developing new alternative energy conversion and storage systems for terrestrial and space applications such as fuel cells, electrolysers, batteries and so-called photoelectrochemical ‘solar fuel devices’, converting sunlight into chemical fuels. For the further development of these systems, it is crucial to get a better, fundamental understanding of the involved (photo-)electrochemical interface processes on multiple scales. Gas bubble formation dynamics and convective transport on the electrode surface represent such key processes. They strongly influence the energy efficiency of an electrochemical system by affecting mass transfer properties and reaction overpotentials due to solution and electrode resistances. These parameters are particularly exacerbated under reduced gravitational environments as the gas bubble break-off diameter directly depends on the gravitational force.

This Topical Team is investigating the fundamental processes of (photo-)electrochemical interface phenomena such as gas bubble formation and their impact on electrode reactions in terrestrial and reduced gravitational environments. The aim is to focus on reactions with significant relevance for human space exploration such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and more complex proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and CO2 reduction reactions.