2D Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Catalytic Applications Explored by EC-STM

ABSTRACT

Developing new materials for efficient energy storage and conversion is a critical challenge in the context of sustainable energy technologies that rely on renewable resources. In this talk, I will showcase some of our recent work on the innovative use of 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, aiming at enhancing their performance in energy storage and catalytic applications.
One primary area of our research investigates how different substrates modulate graphene-metal interactions, leading to enhanced functionalities in energy-related processes. A representative example is electrochemical hydrogen storage, which can be conducted easily at room temperature and ambient pressure since atomic hydrogen is absorbed onto the storage material from an aqueous medium through hydrogen underpotential deposition of H+ [1]. Despite its promise, one challenge has been the limited long-term stability caused by device self-discharge [2]. However, by finely tuning graphene-metal interactions, we achieved exceptional stability for prolonged hydrogen storage in 2D confined spaces, representing a promising path for hydrogen storage technology. This process has been rigorously examined using Electrochemical Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (EC-STM), which enables us to precisely monitor the proton intercalation process through the graphene layer and their subsequent adsorption/desorption from the metal surface. Moreover, we have demonstrated that trapping iron atoms in graphene defects significantly improves the catalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) [3]. Through the use of a novel operando method known as cr-EC-STM [3,4,6], we have been able to accurately identify catalytically active sites and assess their relative activity with atomic precision. Furthermore, during this presentation, I will also discuss other strategies for increasing electrocatalytic activity and optimizing catalysts in 2D materials, such as using intrinsic defects (including metallic twin boundaries in chalcogenides [4,5]), leveraging electron hybridization effects, and conducting catalysis on single atoms [3].

[1] A. Eftekhari, B. Fang, Int J Hydrogen Energy, 42, 25143 (2017); [2] M. Kaur, K. Pal, J Energy Storage, 23, 234 (2019); [3] T. Kosmala et al. Nature Catalysis, 4, 10, 850-859 (2021); [4] M. Lunardon et al. Joule, 6, 3 617-635, (2022); [5] T. Kosmala et al. Advanced Energy Materials, 8, 1800031 (2018); [6] M. Lunardon et al. ACS Energy Letters, 8, 972-980 (2023).

BIO

Tomasz Kosmala received his M.Sc. (2011) from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wrocław. He then joined the Surface & Interface Science Group led by Prof. K. Wandelt at the University of Bonn, where he completed his Ph.D. in chemistry (2016) with a thesis on “Characterisation of organic molecules at metal/electrolyte interfaces.”

Building on his expertise in electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy and solid–liquid interfaces, he worked in international research teams at Tor Vergata University of Rome (2013) and the University of Padova (2014–2020) in the group of Prof. Gaetano Granozzi, focusing on model systems based on 2D materials and ultrathin oxides for electrocatalysis and energy conversion/storage.

Since October 2020, he has been with the University of Wrocław (Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Experimental Physics), where he was promoted to associate professor in April 2024. In 2022, he obtained NCN SONATA-17 funding for the project “Atomic-scale Investigation Under In Operando Conditions of 2D Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion” (2021/43/D/ST3/02873) and was elected to the board of the Polish Vacuum Society. In 2023, he joined the editorial board of Surfaces and received the Scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for Outstanding Young Scientists and the Prof. W. H. Nernst Scientific Award.

He is a co-author of 30+ peer-reviewed publications (including Nature Catalysis, Joule, Advanced Energy Materials, ACS Energy Letters, and ACS Catalysis), has delivered 9 invited and plenary talks at international conferences, and contributed to 20+ conference presentations.