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Current Activities

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Our research endeavors in the area of Electrochemical Surface Science are rooted to the premise that superior technology in electrochemistry emanates from superior science; that major advances in technologies which capitalize on the interplay between chemistry and electricity can be gained from an atomic-level understanding of processes which occur at the electrode-solution interface.

We combine both theory and experiment in our studies. The computational work makes use of ab initio density functional theory. The experimental strategies rely on the integration of traditional electrochemical techniques with modern surface spectroscopic methods. Techniques available in the Electrochemical Surface Science Laboratory include: scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic-force microscopy, low energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal desorption mass spectrometry, low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy and thin-layer electrochemistry. We have also availed of the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Projects currently under investigation in our Laboratory are: the surface science of electrocatalysis; electrochemistry of nanostructured interfaces; electrode-surface organometallic chemistry; electrochemical hydrogen storage; mixed-metal electrocatalysts for fuel cell applications; and green electroanalytical chemistry. We are also active in collaborative projects with other research groups: enzyme-inspired heterogeneous catalysts; platinum-based alloys for oxygen-reduction electrocatalysis; surface redox capacity and cellular toxicity of nanoparticles, microbe-based solar energy conversion; Ni-metal hydride batteries; thin-film growth at electrode surfaces; and hybrid flow batteries.

These studies find relevance in several technological areas such as: renewable energy sources, heterogeneous catalysis, corrosion inhibition, materials science, microelectronics, electroanalysis and sensors.

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Selected Publications

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The Structure of Benzoquinone Chemisorbed on Pd(111): Simulation of EC-STM Images and HREELS Spectra by Density Functional Theory. A. Javier, Y.-G. Kim, J. H. Baricuatro, P. B. Balbuena and M. P. Soriaga. Electrocat. In press (2012).

Electrochemical Atomic Layer Deposition (E-ALD) of Palladium Nanofilms by Surface Limited Redox Replacement (SLRR) with EDTA Complexation, Electrocat. L B. Sheridan, J. Czerwinisk, N. Jayaraj, D. K. Gebregziabiher, J. L. Stickney, D. B. Robinson and M. P. Soriaga. Electrocat. In press (2012).

Towards Biologically Inspired Electrocatalysts: Electrochemistry of a Diiron-Complex Hydrogenase Mimic. J. Sanabria-Chinchilla, T. Liu, C. M. Thomas, and M. Y. Darensbourg and M. P.Soriaga. Electrocat. In press (2012).

Layer-by-Layer Deposition of Pd on Pt(111) Electrode Surface: An Electron Spectroscopy-Electrochemistry Study. M. A. Hossain, Y.-S. Park, K. D. Cummins and M. P. Soriaga. Electrocat. In press (2012).

The Structure and Reactivity of Clean and Ambient-Exposed Polycrystalline and Monocrystalline Mg Surfaces. J. Abreu, J. Sanabria-Chinchilla and M. P. Soriaga. J. Electroanal. Chem. 662 (2011) 36.

STM and DFT Studies of Anion Adsorption at Well-defined Surfaces: Pd(111) in Sulfuric Acid Solution. A. C. Javier, Y. G. Kim, J. B. Soriaga, P. B. Balbuena and M. P. Soriaga. Phil. Sci. Letters. 4 (2011) 18.

Density Functional Study of Benzoquinone Sulfonate Adsorbed on a Pd(111) Electrode Surface. A. Javier, D. Li, P. B. Balbuena and M. P. Soriaga. Electrocat. 1 (2010) 159.

Modern Surface Organometallic Chemistry. M. P. Soriaga. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132 (2010) 5324.

Internalization of Carbon Black and Maghemite Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Mixtures Leads to Oxidant Production. J. M. Berg, S. Ho, W. Hwang, R. Zebda, K. D. Cummins, M. P. Soriaga, R. Taylor, B. Guo and C. M. Sayes. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 23 (2010) 1874.

Electrochemical Hydrogen Storage. A. Visintin, C. Wang, J. H. Baricuatro and M. P. Soriaga. In V. Singh, Ed. "Applied Electrochemistry." Nova Science Publishers: New York, NY. Chapter 11 (2010).

Structural, Compositional and Electrochemical Characterization of Pt–Co Oxygen-Reduction Catalysts. S. Axnanda, K. Cummins, T. He, D. W. Goodman and M. P. Soriaga. Chem. Phys. Chem. 11 (2010) 1468.

J. Sanabria-Chinchilla, Y. G. Kim, X. Chen, H. Baltruschat and M. P. Soriaga. "Electrocatalytic Reactions of Chemisorbed Aromatic Compounds: Studies by ES, DEMS, STM and EC." Mod. Asp. Electrochem. 48 (2010) 8.

Characterization of Alloy Electrocatalysts by Combined Low-Energy Ion Scattering Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry. S. Axnanda, K. Cummins, M. P. Soriaga and D. W. Goodman. Mod. Asp. Electrochem. 48 (2010) 1.

Electrochemical Hydrogen Storage. A. Visintin, C. Wang, J. H. Baricuatro and M. P. Soriaga. In W. H. Lee and V. G. Cho, Eds. "Handbook of Sustainable Energy." Nova Science Publishers: New York, NY. Chapter 17 (2010).