Note: This talk is available over Zoom. Title: Operando Insights into Catalyst-Electrolyte Interfaces for Electrochemical CO₂ and N₂ Reduction Abstract: Transitioning to sustainable energy solutions requires innovative approaches to producing essential chemicals like ethanol and ammonia. Electrochemical methods offer a promising alternative by using electricity, ideally from renewable sources, to convert carbon dioxide and nitrogen into valuable products. However, making these processes efficient and selective remains a challenge. This work employs advanced operando spectroscopic techniques to investigate catalyst dynamics at the electrode-electrolyte interface, offering real-time insights into reaction mechanisms under reaction conditions. For CO2 reduction (CO2RR), time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)1 and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)2 revealed how pulsed electrochemical techniques modulate Cu oxidation states and hydroxide co-adsorption, enhancing ethanol selectivity. Alloying Cu with Ag3 or Zn4 improved catalytic stability and promoted favorable reaction pathways, highlighting the importance of dynamic catalyst restructuring under operating conditions. For lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction to ammonia (LiNRR), operando Raman spectroscopy tracked the formation and evolution of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), showing how electrolyte composition influences lithium deposition, nitrogen activation, and ammonia yield. Transitioning from LiClO4 to LiFSI in tetrahydrofuran/ethanol-based solvents significantly lowers the lithium plating potential, reducing side reactions such as hydrogen evolution and improving overall reaction performance.5 By integrating operando insights with strategic catalyst and electrolyte design, this work advances the understanding of dynamic interactions at the catalyst-electrolyte interface for both CO2RR and NRR. Bio: Dr. Antonia Herzog is a researcher in renewable electrochemical energy conversion. She earned her PhD with distinction from the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society under Prof. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya, where her work on Cu-based catalysts provided key insights into the formation of multi-carbon products during CO₂ electroreduction. Dr. Herzog’s innovative approach, combining insights from operando Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray methods, has redefined the field by linking catalyst structure to real-time reactivity. Currently, as a postdoctoral associate at MIT’s Electrochemical Energy Lab under Prof. Yang Shao-Horn, Dr. Herzog is expanding her research to tackle key challenges in nitrogen activation for ammonia synthesis, lithium interfaces, and direct CO₂ conversion into food. With around 25 publications in prestigious journals, including Nature Communications, Angewandte Chemie, and Energy & Environmental Science, she has made significant contributions to advance electrocatalysis.

Note: This talk is available over Zoom. Title: Harnessing Fluid Mechanics for the Development of Next-Generation Wind Energy Systems Abstract: Wind turbines are becoming significantly larger, with utility scale wind turbine tower heights exceeding 100 meters and diameters of hundreds of meters, especially in offshore conditions. These massive new machines face efficiency and reliability challenges because they operate in a way that defies the assumptions used in the classical theories that they have been designed with. Addressing these challenges requires a new modeling framework that integrates high-fidelity simulations, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and experimental validation, all grounded in fundamental fluid mechanics. In this talk, we will discuss advancements in wind energy modeling for computational fluid dynamics and how the fundamentals of fluid mechanics can be used to augment wind energy extraction of wind turbines and wind plants. We will particularly focus on the development of the curled wake model used to predict wind turbine wakes in yaw. A special emphasis will be given on the assumptions, simplifications and fluid mechanics concepts used to develop this simplified 3D model in view of flow control for wake steering. We will also discuss next steps in the modeling framework and how it can be used to improve wake steering technologies. Bio: Luis ‘Tony’ Martinez Tossas is a research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) specializing in aerodynamics and fluid mechanics for wind energy applications. Tony is currently on sabbatical working with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy on wind turbine wake modeling for wake steering. Tony obtained a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez (UPRM) and his MS project was a partnership between UPRM and NREL on wind turbine modeling for CFD. Tony then obtained a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University focused on theoretical aerodynamics for wind energy. Tony uses his expertise in aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics to advance the science and technology of wind energy and has more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and a patent on wind turbine blade designs. Tony is the chair of the NAWEA Conference Committee that oversees the organization of the yearly NAWEA/WindTech Conference.

Note: This talk is available over Zoom. Title: Building Structure-Function Relationships for the Catalytic Conversion of Light Alkenes and Carbon Dioxide Abstract: The valorization of CO2 and shale gas-derived light alkenes will be key components of technologies for decarbonizing the fuel and chemical industries. Light alkenes can be oligomerized to transportation fuel-range alkenes over solid Brønsted acid catalysts, while CO2 can be converted to oxygenates (e.g., methanol) through hydrogenation on transition metal-derived catalysts. Regulating rates and directing selectivity during the thermocatalytic conversion of both feedstocks poses fundamental challenges for the industrialization of such processes. Herein, the influences of thermodynamic, kinetic, and transport barriers on the rates and selectivity of propene oligomerization and CO2 hydrogenation to methanol are evaluated. Propene oligomerization proceeds through dimerization and subsequent propene additions to yield oligomers with carbon numbers that are integer multiples of propene; concurrent β-scission cracking and co-oligomerization reactions form products of other carbon numbers. Medium-pore MFI zeolites synthesized with independently varied Brønsted acid site density (H⁺/u.c.) and crystallite size enabled evaluating the effects of these material properties on propene oligomerization rates and selectivity. Systematic decreases in propene dimerization rates on MFI samples of fixed H⁺/u.c. with crystallite size, transients in rates upon step-changes in reaction temperature and pressure, and reaction-transport formalisms together evidence that propene oligomerization rates and selectivity are strongly influenced by transport barriers imposed by products that occlude within the zeolitic micropores during catalysis. The composition of these products, and consequently the transport barriers they impose, evolve with reaction conditions and H⁺/u.c., providing new avenues to tune rate and selectivity in alkene oligomerization. Achieving high methanol yields during CO2 hydrogenation requires kinetically directing selectivity towards methanol and activating CO2 at low temperatures (< 423 K) where methanol conversion is not significantly limited by thermodynamic equilibrium. Unsupported Mo2C catalyzes continuous CO2 hydrogenation at low temperatures (348–408 K) with high selectivity to methanol (up to ~80%). Product formation rates measured over widely varying reactant and product concentrations in conjunction with reversibility formalisms afforded the dependence of forward kinetic rates on reactant and product concentrations, from which mechanisms of methanol synthesis, reverse water-gas shift, and methanation could be deduced. A kinetic model revealed that Mo2C surfaces are highly covered with partially hydrogenated CO- and CO2-derived intermediates during steady-state catalysis, the coverages of which dictate relative rates of methanation and methanol synthesis, respectively. Importantly, these findings suggest that COx- and H-derived intermediates do not compete for surface occupancy on Mo2C, but adsorb cooperatively, thereby enabling low temperature CO2 activation. Bio: Elizabeth Bickel Rogers received her Bachelor of Science degree with Distinction in Chemical Engineering from Tennessee Tech University in 2017. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 2022 under the supervision of Professor Rajamani Gounder. At Purdue her research focused on the synthesis of zeolite materials with well-defined properties and their application as catalysts for upgrading light alkenes. She is currently a postdoctoral scholar in Professor Aditya Bhan’s research group in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota where her research has centered on low temperature CO2 hydrogenation over transition metal carbide catalysts. Elizabeth is the lead author of seven journal articles and has been recognized for her research and mentorship with several honors, including the Kokes Award from the North American Catalysis Society, the Philips 66 Fellowship, and the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award from Purdue.

Note: This talk is available over Zoom. Title: Design principles for Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces in Energy Conversion and Environments Abstract: Electrification-driven processes are essential to achieving sustainable energy and a cleaner environment, including electrochemical conversion and environmental monitoring. Designing these processes requires a deep understanding of the electrode-electrolyte interface, where molecular interactions dictate energy and power density, as well as device lifetime. Challenges arise in characterizing the interface and understanding mechanisms under operando processes. In this seminar, I will describe how we understand and design electrochemical reactions, charge transfer, and electrokinetics at the electrode-electrolyte interface in Li-ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and environmental biosensing. First, I developed in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with Li-ion battery cycling capabilities to elucidate the formation of the electrode-electrolyte interface layer on Ni-rich positive electrodes. The dehydrogenation pathway was identified and provides design principles for stabilizing battery cycling. Next, I discuss the ion intercalation mechanism across the interface in Li-ion batteries. I developed a charge-compensated electrochemical method to demonstrate coupled ion-electron transfer, which reveals a kinetic limitation to the maximum usable capacity. I extend these approaches to hydrogen-fuel-cell reactions, where I demonstrate mechanisms and strategies by which interfacial hydrogen bonds modify electrocatalytic kinetics. Lastly, beyond electrochemical energy conversion, I apply plasmon-enhanced Raman scattering and machine learning for biological interfaces, enabling the design of an integrated electrokinetic system for label-free bacterial identification in wastewater. These studies offer insights for the rational design of materials for next-generation batteries, electrocatalysis, and biosensing systems with improved efficiency and lifetime. Bio: Yirui (Arlene) Zhang is a Schmidt Science Fellow at Stanford University. She received her Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and B.S. from Tsinghua University. Her research focuses on interfacial mechanisms in electrochemical energy storage and biosensing. She develops in situ spectroscopy, electrochemical and plasmonic methods, combined with computations and machine learning, to elucidate and tailor the interfacial charge transfer reactions and transport at the molecular scale. Her work has been recognized by the AIChE Inaugural Gamry Award for Electrochemical Fundamentals (Faculty Candidates), CAS Future Leaders in Chemistry, The Electrochemical Society (ECS) Energy Technology Division Graduate Student Award, and the Materials Research Society (MRS) Graduate Student Silver Award, etc.

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Note: This talk is available over Zoom. Title: A Path Towards Multiscale Wind–Wave Interaction Modeling for Offshore Wind Energy Abstract: As energy demands continue to rise, harnessing offshore wind energy is increasingly essential for sustainable energy development. However, the marine environment presents significant challenges for accurately assessing wind potential due to the high variability of wind and wave conditions. Addressing these challenges requires modeling frameworks that capture the complex interplay between wind and waves across multiple scales, especially when offshore wind observation data are limited. In this talk, I will share my research on three key scales of wind–wave dynamics and discuss a pathway towards developing a multiscale wind–wave modeling framework for offshore wind energy. I begin by exploring the early stages of wind-wave generation through direct numerical simulations (DNS) that capture fine-scale turbulence and wave motion. Our work validates key aspects of wind-wave generation theories and introduces a new model that improves predictions of wave growth. Next, I will present intermediate-scale large eddy simulations (LES) that reveal broader wind–wave interactions, using our newly implemented wind–wave coupling capability in the widely used Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. These studies help us understand how different sea states can influence assessments of offshore wind resources. At the mesoscale, I will demonstrate simulations that integrate wind, wave, and current dynamics along the U.S. West Coast and analyze how offshore wind farms impact coastal upwelling. Finally, I will share my perspectives on integrating these scales into a comprehensive multiscale wind–wave coupling framework and on leveraging the exascale-ready, GPU-accelerated Energy Research and Forecasting (ERF) model to drive transformative advances in offshore wind energy research. Bio: Dr. Tianyi Li is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Principal Investigator in the Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Prior to joining LLNL, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, and a visiting postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University. He earned his B.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Tsinghua University and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota, where he received the Pui Best Dissertation Award. Dr. Li’s research investigates wind–wave–current interactions using high-fidelity simulations and mathematical modeling to enhance our understanding of complex air–sea processes. At LLNL, he is the Principal Investigator of a competitively awarded Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project titled “Assessment of Multiscale Wind–Wave Interactions for Offshore Wind Resource Characterization.” He also contributes to multiple projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, focusing on onshore and offshore wind modeling to improve wind resource characterization.