Solid-like Redox Shuttles on Nanostructured 3D Electrodes for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Processes

Electrochemical technologies are central to addressing major societal challenges such as climate change, sustainable chemical production, and purification. However, conventional electrodes often suffer from poor selectivity and low volumetric surface areas. Recent advances in nanostructured materials offer new solutions to these limitations.  An additional next step is to functionalize these materials to cater to relevant applications. 

At imec, we are exploring high aspect ratio nanostructured 3D metal electrodes functionalized with solid-like redox shuttles. A redox shuttle is a redox-active material that can reversibly accept and donate electrons, thereby mediating electron transfer between the current collector and a chemical species in the electrolyte.  While the 3D architecture provides a high surface area, the functionalization renders it suitable for specific electrochemical processes.  By suitable confinement of the redox shuttles on the large surface area nanostructured electrodes, a stable solid-state redox environment is created that can be used for energy storage (batteries and pseudo-capacitors), but also for enhancement of electrocatalytic processes such as electrochemical CO2 reduction or the electro-oxidation of prevalent contaminants such as PFAS and even for electrochemical ion separation and filtration. 

In this master’s thesis, the student will work on the functionalization of nanostructured metal electrodes with solid or solid-like redox shuttles. At imec, several solid and solid-like redox systems have been identified, and the conformal coating of these materials on nanomesh electrodes will be explored. The coated electrodes will be characterized and tested for functionality.  The experimental work will be carried out in the labs at imec.  Through this project, the student will gain hands-on experience in the fabrication of nanostructured materials, their functionalization, and their application in fields pertinent to pressing global challenges and real-world relevance. For more information on this topic, please contact Debargha.Chakravorty@imec.be.