Research Symposium

BIO

I am a first year chemical engineering student at FSU. I am from Tampa, FL. I am interested in doing research related to chemistry and chemical engineering, specifically areas in energy and materials. I am considering attending graduate school to pursue a doctorate degree, and my current career goal is to work with or lead a team in energy development.

Controlling Fe:Ni Ratios in Carbides to Affect Electrocatalytic Activity ​

Abstract

For the past several decades scientists around the globe have been searching for fossil fuel alternatives, hydrogen fuel being the most promising candidate. Water electrolysis is the main vector by which renewable hydrogen fuel is produced. Herein we present a study on earth abundant electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), the rate limiting step for water splitting, as alternatives to the current noble metal-based catalysts. In this project we attempt to control the Fe:Ni ratio for the synthesis of both Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) and nanocarbides, using a novel top-down synthetic technique in order to find an optimum ratio that maximizes electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability (Hardy, 2019). Current literature suggests a ratio of 20-40% Fe as ideal, but not much research has been done involving FeNi carbides, and even less when it comes to controlling the bimetallic ratio (Sun, 2021). In addition to synthesis, characterization and analysis of these materials is presented. The methods used to characterize the materials are pXRD (powder X-ray diffraction), XRF (X-ray fluorescence), and SEM/TEM (scanning electron microscope/transmission electron microscopy) imaging, and the performance and stability of the as synthesized materials are analyzed using CV (cyclic voltammetry). The current results are a promising indication that new, high OER-performing materials were made, and an optimum ratio for Fe was found that outperforms the IrO2/RuO2 state-of-the-art.

Keywords: Carbides, Energy, Catalyst, Iron, Nickel