Van Marum Colloquium: Ultrafast electrochemistry beyond the RC time constant

Dr. Yujin Tong (University of Duisburg-Essen)

Date: Wednesday 25 September 2024
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Location: Gorlaeus Building
Einsteinweg 55
2333 CC Leiden
Room: CM.3.23

Abstract

Electrochemistry relies on charge transfer, which can occur on time scales from femtoseconds to seconds or longer. Traditional electrochemical detection methods are limited in their ability to study ultrafast processes such as solvent reorganization and electron tunneling (Fig. 1). This presentation focuses on the advancements and challenges in ultrafast electrochemistry, specifically exploring processes occurring on timescales shorter than the RC time constant. Traditional electrochemical processes have typically been studied over longer timescales, often constrained by limitations in mass diffusion and hardware capabilities. However, recent developments in ultrafast laser technology and femtochemistry have enabled the observation of rapid processes with femto /pico second time resolution at electrochemical interfaces, such as ultrafast potential relaxation in electric double layers and the dynamics of solvated electrons. [1-3].

Figure 1: Elementary processes that may be involved in charge transfer at electrochemical interfaces. Adapted from Ref [1].

References

G. Zwaschka, F. Lapointe, R. K. Campen, Y. Tong, Curr. Opin. Electrochem. 29, 100813 (2021)
F. Lapointe, M. Wolf, R. K. Campen, Y. Tong, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142, 18619-18627 (2020)
Z. Huang, M. Bridger, O. A. Naranjo-Montoya, A. Tarasevitch, U. Bovensiepen, Y. Tong, R. K. Campen, arXiv preprint, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2304.06684 (2023)