Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

As society shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, electrochemistry will play an increasingly central role in energy storage, carbon capture, and green chemical synthesis. The development of these important technologies requires fundamental discovery, theory development, and practical implementation, all of which rely on a strong understanding of the chemical products that are formed at electrode interfaces in real time. Routine analytical methods to identify and quantify reaction products are inadequate due to slow response times and lack of sensitivity. This proposal will fund the acquisition of a Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometer (DEMS), which is capable of detecting gaseous and volatile products rapidly and sensitively, enabling researchers to monitor dynamic reactivity changes at electrode interfaces. This infrastructure will be used by six principal investigators (PIs) across five departments at the University of British Columbia, and will support the training and career advancement of over 20 highly qualified personnel (HQP). This equipment is particularly essential for five senior Ph.D. students in the Nichols lab who have recently uncovered unprecedented CO2 reduction selectivity to high-value products with a variety of new catalysts, but who are currently constrained by inadequate equipment to study these systems further. This proposal emphasizes the potential of a DEMS system to significantly elevate research quality and output across various research programs and departments, and will enhance UBC's position as a hub for clean energy research. Nichols has prior familiarity with the design and setup of a DEMS instrument, and will emphasize rigorous and hands-on training for all HQP users. These experiences will foster marketable skills in a rapidly evolving job market with increasing focus on clean technology and electrochemistry. The applicant and co-applicant team showcases diversity by balancing early-career and established researchers, equal gender representation, five different Departmental affiliations, and three nationalities; this exceptional diversity will strengthen scientific discovery and promote an inclusive research environment for HQP. In summary, DEMS will enable electrochemistry researchers to address pressing selectivity issues that otherwise remain challenging to study or largely unanswerable. This team is comprised of internationally regarded experts who are leading Canada's frontier in electrochemistry research. The investment in DEMS infrastructure will pay dividends by enabling cutting-edge science, stimulating collaboration with academic and industrial partners, and training a highly skilled future workforce.