Industrial PhD Project by Niccolò Bottauscio

Project Title: UltraEChem - System for Ultimate imaging Resolution in Electrochemical processes in energy conversion processes
Group: Molecular Window
Supervisors: Kristian Mølhave, Emil Jensen
 
Project description
Liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM) is a method developed over the past 20 years to directly observe nanoscale processes in high vapor pressure liquids. In the closed cell LPTEM setup, the liquid sample is encapsulated between two thin electron-transparent membranes and isolated from the vacuum inside the TEM column. Thanks to LPTEM, it is possible to observe the chemical and structural changes of nanoparticles, proteins, etc. However, in order to observe electrochemical nanoscale processes, microelectrodes inside the chip are required. 

The aim of this PhD Project is to implement the Nano Channel Chip commercialized by Insight Chips ApS with microelectrodes and nanoparticle traps to observe electrochemical nanoscale processes. Nanoparticles are essential components in applications for energy conversion and energy storage; therefore, being able to assess individual nanoparticle structure and composition while it is undergoing an electrochemical process could help improving battery capacity, cycling performance, and catalytic efficiency and stability.

Perspective
The first prototypes of the electrochemical LPTEM system will be tested both internally at DTU and with 3rd party collaborators; in particular, the Marc‐Georg Willinger’s research group at TUM and the Frances Ross and Hanglong Wu's research group at MIT.