The Analytical and Surface Chemistry (ASC) program of the Division of Chemistry will support the research program of Prof. Allen Bard of The University of Texas at Austin. Prof. Bard's research program continues to focus on the development of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) for high resolution imaging and quantitative studies of surface processes in liquid environments. In this study, Prof. Bard and his students will use SECM to study the heterogeneous kinetics of electrocatalytic reactions of single metal nanoparticle catalysts. The proposed studies will be directly applicable to the discovery of new electrocatalysts for the oxygen cathodes of fuel cells and air batteries, as well as for the development of sensors and studies of biological cells at the single cell level. The study will provide an excellent educational opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees to carry out a fundamental research project in a world leading laboratory in the field of electrochemistry.
