Reactivity in Aqueous Nanodroplets

Reactivity changes at the nanoscale. Our group is interested in studying reactivity in very small volumes, which allows us to observe the growth of a single nanoparticle, turnover of just a few enzymes, and the redox reactivity of just a few molecules. These types of experiments also elucidate reactivity at phase boundaries and allow for synthesis of high entropy alloy nanoparticles.

Our group has developed a new method to study the porosity within single nanoparticles. This method can also be used to explore how nanopores twist and wind within a nanoparticle, a physical property known as tortuosity.	Our lab is spearheading the understanding of electrocatalysis of high entropy alloy nanoparticles.	We have shown that one can control the stoichiometry of different metals in alloy nanoparticles using the nano-Drop Deposition method
Not all nanoparticles have electrical contact with the solution or the surface of an electrode, as demonstrated in our recent publication in ACS Applied Nano Materials.	The number of atoms in a cluster affects its size, and we are interested in how size and morphology affect electrocatalysis. The inset shows the reduction of protons on a platinum cluster adsorbed to a carbon fiber ultramicroelectrodes. The limiting current can be used to calculate the size of the clusters, which can be compared to a size estimate based on the face centered cubic lattice of platinum metal.	This figure describes a method to observe electrocatalysis of small clusters of platinum on relatively inert ultramicroelectrodes. The amplification occurs when platinum forms, which is capable of reducing water over gold and carbon.
This SEM micrograph shows the size of nanoelectrode after FIB milling.

Reactivity in Aqueous Nanodroplets

Our group has developed a new method to study the porosity within single nanoparticles. This method can also be used to explore how nanopores twist and wind within a nanoparticle, a physical property known as tortuosity.

Our lab is spearheading the understanding of electrocatalysis of high entropy alloy nanoparticles.

We have shown that one can control the stoichiometry of different metals in alloy nanoparticles using the nano-Drop Deposition method

Not all nanoparticles have electrical contact with the solution or the surface of an electrode, as demonstrated in our recent publication in ACS Applied Nano Materials.

This figure describes a method to observe electrocatalysis of small clusters of platinum on relatively inert ultramicroelectrodes. The amplification occurs when platinum forms, which is capable of reducing water over gold and carbon.

This SEM micrograph shows the size of nanoelectrode after FIB milling.