Electrochemistry promises to play a key role in mitigation of waste associated with energy and chemical production. In electrochemical devices, high ion concentrations and large electrode potentials often induce strong ion-ion correlations, driving ions to assemble into nanostructured networks. While ion interactions are known to govern properties in concentrated electrolytes, many questions persist surrounding how ion assembly influences ion transport and electron transfer.
Matthew “Matt” Gebbie,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
We aim to address these questions by using ionic liquids as model systems for investigating how collective ion assembly can promote selective redox ion transport and alter electrocatalytic activity.
I will present three examples of how we are studying ionic liquids to explore the link between ionic correlations, transport, and electron transfer in electrochemical systems. I will discuss our research aimed at linking electric double layer formation to rates and selectivity of electrocatalytic reactions. I will then highlight a microscopy approach to quantifying lithium flux in ionic liquids, opening the door to direct observation of ion flux in electrolytes. I will conclude by highlighting how we are using entropic driving forces to design electrolytes that bridge the gap between existing solids and liquids for next-generation batteries. Using these examples, I will illuminate how modulating nanoscale ion assembly provides opportunities to address emerging needs in energy storage and chemical production.
Professor Matthew Gebbie joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in December 2019, where he is a Michael F. and Virginia H. Conway Assistant Professor. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from NC State University in 2010 and Ph.D. in Materials from the UC Santa Barbara in 2016, where he was a 2011-2015 Science and Engineering Fellow in the NSF Center for Nanotechnology in Society. He was then a 2016-2018 GLAM Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University before joining UW-Madison. Prof. Gebbie’s research addresses fundamental roadblocks at the intersection of soft matter, interface science, and electrochemistry to achieve sustainable interconversion of chemical and electrical energy. His current projects are centered around exploring new electrolyte design paradigms to enable safe, high-performance batteries, enable next generation separations, and facilitate electrocatalytic energy conversion. Matthew’s independent research has been recognized by a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, an Early Career Award from the Army Research Office, a Doctoral New Investigator Grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, and an Early Career Research Award from the Prairie Chapter of the American Vacuum Society.