Tuning Silver Nanoparticles: Exploring the Impact of Electrochemical Annealing on Morphology for CO2 Electrocatalysis

The carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) is a promising pathway to mitigate carbon emissions while producing valuable chemicals and fuels. Among the various products, carbon monoxide (CO) is particularly attractive due to its role as a feedstock for chemical synthesis. Silver (Ag) is one of the most efficient and selective electrocatalysts for CO₂-to-CO conversion, making it a critical material in this field. However, the catalytic performance of silver is often affected by morphological changes and performance degradation during CO₂ reduction reactions, leading to a shift in selectivity towards the hydrogen evolution reaction.  

This project focuses on exploring electrochemical annealing as a method to tune the morphology and surface properties of silver nanoparticles. By applying an electrical potential in an electrolyte, electrochemical annealing can alter the nanoparticle structure, affecting its catalytic efficiency and stability. The study will investigate the effects of various annealing parameters on silver nanoparticle morphology, with a broader aim to optimize Ag nanoparticle performance in catalytic applications. 

The research will be conducted at imec, where the student will have access to advanced tools for nanoparticle characterization and electrochemical measurements. Through this project, the student will gain expertise in electrochemical annealing, learn advanced characterization techniques, and explore the relationship between surface properties and electrocatalytic performance. 

This project provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of optimized catalysts for sustainable technologies. For more information on this topic, please contact Erfan.hassanizadeh@imec.be.