2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Role of electrochemical activity and electronic structure studied using a scanning tunneling microscopy approach
| Project/Area Number |
21K14595
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| Research Institution | Institute of Physical and Chemical Research |
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Principal Investigator |
Wong Raymond 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 開拓研究本部, 基礎科学特別研究員 (40815560)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | Electrochemistry / solid-liquid interface / ultrahigh vacuum / STM |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
My work aims to investigate the local electronic and structural properties of model electrochemical (electrode/electrolyte) interfaces. Namely, heterogeneity at bare metal surfaces and heterogeneity in redox-active self-assembled monolayers and dependencies on the neutral/charged states. Our approach involves transfer between the solution environment of EC to the ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) environment of surface science.
I have investigated the chemical and morphological changes of graphite electrodes in nonaqueous electrolytes at low cathodic potentials which has relevance to Li-ion batteries. Chemical analysis can show decomposition of the electrolyte while real-spacing imaging following EC can detect the exfoliation of graphite at the edge planes.
Taking this further, a dedicated EC chamber to better accommodate EC experiments involving UHV-STM has been constructed. Although probing rather large-scale changes has been achieved, further work to fully realize this approach with UHV-STM for molecularly-resolved insights is the challenge and target.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
As a first step, I have investigated the chemical and morphological changes of graphite electrodes in nonaqueous electrolytes at low cathodic potentials which has relevance to Li-ion batteries. Chemical analysis via spectroscopy is capable of showing decomposition of the electrolyte while real-spacing imaging following EC can detect the exfoliation of graphite at the edge planes.
Although probing rather large-scale changes has been achieved, further work to fully realize this approach with UHV-STM for molecularly-resolved insights is the challenge and target.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
To take this combined EC/UHV approach further, a dedicated EC chamber to better accommodate EC experiments involving UHV-STM has been constructed and the basic functionality has been tested. Further experiments on molecularly modified electrodes at different potentials are currently underway.
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| Causes of Carryover |
I will use the remaining funds to achieve my research aims. This includes equipment purchases, and consumables. Moreover, I will also be disseminating the results though domestic and international conferences and also in peer-reviewed publications
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