Special Seminar
Name: Dr. Deepak Badgurjar
Affiliation: Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Chemistry, Physical Science Division, The University of Chicago, IL, 60637 USA
Title: Predictive Microenvironment Control at Electrified Solid-Liquid Interfaces for Advanced Electrocatalysis
Date & Time: Tuesday, 09th December 2025 at 04:00 p.m.
Venue: AG-09/11 Lecture Hall, Chemical Sciences Building
Abstract:
Electrochemical energy technologies rely fundamentally on well-defined and stable solid-liquid interfaces, yet achieving precise molecular control at these interfaces remains a major scientific challenge. Conventional covalent functionalization is often material-specific and can undergo competitive desorption under operating conditions. In this talk, I will introduce a material-agnostic, electrode-orthogonal strategy based on non-covalent self-assembly that forms robust interfacial layers across diverse electrode materials. These self-assembled interfacial layers exhibit exceptional stability over a 2.9 V potential window and mimic the interfacial behavior of covalently tethered systems. Operando Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy (SEIRAS) reveals how the non-covalently assembled layers assemble and reorganize at electrified interfaces, providing molecular-level insight that enables predictive control over interfacial microenvironments. I will then illustrate how these principles translate to electrocatalysis. By integrating anthraquinone catalysts into amphiphilic structures that self-tether in situ, we create a hydrophobic interfacial region that stabilizes key intermediates otherwise inaccessible in bulk solution. This environment enhances the two-electron oxygen reduction pathway, significantly improving the selective electrosynthesis of H2O2 in neutral media. I will conclude by outlining a research vision that integrates interface engineering, operando spectroscopy, and rational catalyst–microenvironment design to advance sustainable CO2 conversion, fuel-forming electrocatalysis, and next-generation electrochemical energy technologies.