Zinger Lab:
Stoerzinger Research Group
Chemical Engineering, Oregon State University
School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering
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Chemical reactions can be used to store energy, transform molecules into valuable feedstocks, and recycle precious natural resources. We leverage (electro)catalysis to tailor the reaction pathway, impacting the product distribution and rate of conversion.
We're interested in the fascinating chemistry that occurs at electrochemical interfaces and plays a critical role in dictating performance of catalysts involved in energy conversion and storage. Combining the tools of materials science and surface physics, we use spectroscopic approaches to link the surface chemistry of catalysts to their electronic structure and performance. This mechanistic understanding can in turn guide the rational design of more active catalysts, increasing the efficiency of electrochemical devices (e.g. fuel cells, electrolyzers). We're particularly interested in the interface between earth-abundant catalysts, comprised of transition metal oxides, with water -- with further applications in water purification.
Research Interests
Understanding and leveraging surface chemistry to develop materials for energy conversion and storage.
Photoelectrocatalysis for solar water splitting
Fundamental studies of semiconductor protection layers and oxide surfaces
The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources requires a clean, scalable means of converting and storing energy. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells based on semiconductor/liquid interfaces can convert sunlight to chemical fuels without external circuitry, such as “splitting” water into O2 and H2 upon illumination. The efficacy of conversion depends in part on the rectifying properties of semiconductor–electrolyte junctions, which drives the separation of electron–hole pairs. Earth abundant oxide materials can be used as photoabsorbers and catalysts, as well as protective coatings for traditional semiconductor absorbers, where ideal band alignment and transport of charge carriers through the heterostructures might enable water splitting without the use of precious metal catalysts. We study the charge transport across these buried solid junctions and at the interface between the oxide and water to better understand the kinetics of PEC conversion. Additionally, we study the absorption and electrocatalytic properties of earth-abundant oxide photoanodes.
Select publications:
Stoerzinger, K.A. Wang, L. Ye, Y. Bowden, M. Crumlin, E.J. Du, Y. Chambers, S.A. “Linking surface chemistry to photovoltage in Sr-substituted LaFeO3 for water oxidation”. Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2018) DOI: 10.1039/C8TA05741A. link
Link
Stoerzinger, K.A. Du, Y. Spurgeon, S.R. Wang, L. Kepaptsoglou, D. Ramasse, Q.M. Crumlin, E.J. Chambers, S.A. “Chemical and Electronic Structure Analysis of a SrTiO3 (001) / p-Ge (001) Hydrogen Evolution Photocathode”. MRS Communications 8 (2018) 446-452. link
Intrinsic activity of oxide catalysts
Electrochemical studies of model systems
In order to rationally design more active catalysts for energy and conversion and storage, thus reducing material cost for commercial technologies, we study the fundamental processes that occur on model catalyst systems for oxygen reduction and evolution. Electrochemical studies of well-defined surfaces grown by pulsed laser deposition or molecular beam epitaxy establish the intrinsic activity of oxide catalysts in a way that cannot be realized with polydisperse nanoparticle systems, and can also reveal how different terminations and structures affect the kinetics. These studies of epitaxial thin films were among the first to probe phenomena that are not straightforward to isolate in nanoparticles, such as the role of oxide band structure, interfacial charge transfer (the “ligand” effect), strain, and crystallographic orientation.
Select publications:
Wang, L. Stoerzinger, K.A. Chang, L. Zhao, J. Li, Y. Tang, C.S. Yin, X. Bowden, M.E. Yang, Z. Guo, G. You, L.Guo, R. Wang, J. Ibrahim, K. Chen, J. Rusydi, A. Wang, J. Chambers, S.A. Du, Y. “Tuning Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts by Changing A-site Rare-Earth Element in Perovskite Nickelates”. Advanced Functional Materials (2018) 1803712. link
- Highlighted by PNNL and Phys.org. link
Stoerzinger, K.A.* Diaz-Morales, O.* Kolb, M. Rao, R.R. Frydendal, R. Qiao, L. Wang, X.R. Bendtsen Halck, N. Rossmeisl, J. Hansen, H.A. Vegge, T. Stephens, I.E.L. Koper, M.T.M. Shao-Horn, Y. “Orientation-dependent oxygen evolution on RuO2 without lattice exchange”. ACS Energy Letters 2 (2017) 876–881. link
Stoerzinger, K.A. Lu, W.M. Li, C. Ariando, Venkatesan, T. Shao-Horn, Y. “Highly Active Epitaxial La(1-x)SrxMnO3 Surfaces for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Role of Charge Transfer” J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 6 (2015) 1435-1440. link
Stoerzinger, K.A. Choi, W.S. Jeen, H. Lee, H.N. and Shao-Horn, Y. “Role of Strain and Conductivity in Oxygen Electrocatalysis on LaCoO3 Thin Films” J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 6 (2015) 487-492. link
Stoerzinger, K.A. Risch, M. Suntivich, J. Lu, W.M. Zhou, J. Biegalski, M. Christen, H. Ariando, Venkatesan, T. Shao-Horn, Y. “Oxygen Electrocatalysis on (001)-Oriented Manganese Perovskite Films: Mn Valency and Charge Transfer at the Nanoscale” Energy Environ. Sci. 6 (2013) 1582-1588. link
- Highlighted in the MIT Materials Processing Center newsletter. link
Surface chemistry of oxide catalysts
Spectroscopic probing of surface species in situ
Ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is a recent technique which can probe the surface species present in environments approaching that of material operation, bridging the pressure gap between surface science and application. We have used this approach to investigate the adsorption of water and other small molecules on well-defined thin film surfaces, quantifying the dependence of speciation on the chemical potential. The reactivity of the surface depends on both the transition metal of complex oxides and the termination in the ternary perovskite crystal structure. This fundamental insight brings molecular understanding to the wetting of oxide surfaces, as well as the role of hydrogen bonding in catalysis.
Select publications:
Stoerzinger, K.A. Hong, W.T. Wang, X. Rao, R.R. Subramanyam, S.P.B. Li, C. Ariando, Venkatesan, T. Liu, Q. Crumlin, E.J. Varanasi, K.K. Shao-Horn, Y. “Decreasing the Hydroxylation Affinity of La(1-x)SrxMnO3 Perovskites To Promote Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis”. Chemistry of Materials 29 (2017) 9990–9997. link
Stoerzinger, K.A. Comes, R. Spurgeon, S.R. Thevuthasan, S. Ihm, K. Crumlin, E.J. Chambers, S.A. “Influence of LaFeO3 Surface Termination on Water Reactivity”. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 8 (2017) 1038–1043. link
Stoerzinger, K.A. Hong, W.T. Crumlin, E.J. Bluhm, H. Shao-Horn, Y. “Insights into Electrochemical Reactions from Near-Ambient Pressure Photoelectron Spectroscopy” Acc. Chem. Res. 48 (2015) 2976-2983. link
- Highlighted on the cover. link
Stoerzinger, K.A. Hong, W.T. Azimi, G. Giordano, L. Lee, Y.-L. Crumlin, E.J. Biegalski, M.D. Bluhm, H. Varanasi, K.K. Shao-Horn, Y. “Reactivity of Perovskites with Water: Role of Hydroxylation in Wetting and Implications for Oxygen Electrocatalysis” J. Phys. Chem. C 119 (2015) 18504-18512. link
- Highlighted in the MIT news. link
Join us!
We’re looking for motivated students to study the fascinating chemistry occurring at materials surfaces and driving the chemistry of our world.
Graduate Students
Details on the admissions process are available here: https://cbee.oregonstate.edu/che-graduate-program
PI Biography: Kelsey A. Stoerzinger
2010, B.S., Northwestern University, Materials Science and Engineering
2011, M.Phil., University of Cambridge, Physics (Churchill Scholar)
2016, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering (NSF Graduate Research Fellowship)
2016, Linus Pauling Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
2018-present, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, Oregon State University
2018-present, Callahan Faculty Scholar in Chemical Engineering
2018-present, Scientist (joint appointment), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
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