The primary focus of the research is to understand the atomic structure and reactions at the electrochemical interface in systems relevant to electrochemical technologies (for example, low temperature hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and electroplating processes). The experimental work may include laboratory based characterisation by electrochemical methods, scanning probe microscopy and ultra high vacuum (UHV) techniques, including the design of new experimental set-ups. A main part of the research will involve the use of synchrotron radiation techniques to probe atomic and electronic structure.
This will utilise the XMaS beamline (BM28) which is an EPSRC mid-range facility based at the ESRF in Grenoble, France. Additional synchrotron experiments will take place at the Diamond Light Source and the Advanced Photon Source in the USA.