Department of Chemistry Seminar - Proton transport through interfaces for decoupled energy storage
Speaker: Dawei XI
Institution: School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University
Hosted by: Professor Qing CHEN
Zoom Link: https://hkust.zoom.us/j/6024103984?omn=95407239478
Meeting ID: 602 410 3984
Abstract
The transport of protons is one of the most fundamental processes in nature, powering systems from cellular respiration to renewable energy technologies. In this talk, I will present controlling of protons and hydroxide ions as charge carriers in the aqueous electrochemical systems for pH-decoupled energy storage and high Faradaic efficiency energy conversion. Controlling of the gradient of proton distribution establishes a foundation for broader applications of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) – a synchronized transfer of protons and electrons – in complex electrochemical systems.
This talk will further introduce a systematic exploration of aqueous redox-active molecular systems designed to mediate PCET across multiple interfaces, with a focus on advancing sustainable energy technologies. Redox-active aqueous molecules, if proton coupled can function as carriers for hydrogen atoms (one proton alone with one electron). In particular, we demonstrated a highly efficient, reversible aqueous electrochemical system that operates with near-perfect Faradaic efficiency and offers significant advantages for stationary hydrogen storage applications.
Building upon this foundation, we extended the application of PCET processes to electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production systems that incorporate both aqueous and nonaqueous phases. We also developed a system that uses aqueous redox molecules to mediate PCET at the aqueous-solid interface, with hydrogen atoms subsequently transferred into a nonaqueous phase to drive hydrogenation at the solid-nonaqueous interface. The integration of aqueous electrochemistry with nonaqueous hydrogenation processes represents a promising pathway for the development of sustainable and scalable energy solutions. The tunability of the redox molecules involved in this system provides further potential for optimization across a range of energy storage and conversion applications, contributing to the broader field of materials science by addressing key challenges in interfacial catalysis and molecular mediation.
About the speaker
Dawei Xi is a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science at Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, where he is dedicated to advancing sustainable energy technologies through electrochemistry. His work focuses on the development of electrochemical systems through fine-tuning charge carriers for applications such as flow batteries, electrosynthesis and carbon dioxide capture and utilization.
Prior to his graduate studies at Harvard, Dawei earned both his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China, graduating with first‐class honors and consistently ranking at the top of the university, with an interdisciplinary research background in nanomaterials, single-atom catalysts, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and CO₂ reduction.
Dawei contributed to more than five patents and has published several first/corresponding author papers, including Nature Energy, Energy & Environmental Science and Advanced Materials. Dawei as the corresponding author, hired and mentored four international undergraduates for half a year, assuring each students having their first-authored manuscript published or under preparation with patents applied. He applied and received fundings from Harvard Climate Change Solutions Fund, Dean's Competitive Fund and Climate and Sustainability Translational Funding, supporting his research.
In addition to his research, Dawei actively participates in academic conferences and forums. He received MRS Graduate Student Award by Materials Research Society, Distinguished Talk Award by eScience Editorial Board for an invited talk, and Innovation Incentive Award by Jiangsu Renewable Energy Society.