Dr. Ethan J. Crumlin

Advanced Light Source Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA  

Abstract: Interfaces play an important role in nearly all aspects of life, and are essential for electrochemistry.  Electrochemical systems ranging from high temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) to lithium ion batteries to capacitors have a wide range of important interfaces between solids, liquids, and gases which play a pivotal role in how energy is stored, transferred, and/or converted.  The ability to study these interfaces has proven to be difficult and is only further exacerbated by the limited number of techniques capable of operating under in situ/operando environments. To overcome these challenges, we use in situ/operando ambient pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (APXPS).  APXPS is a photon-in/electron-out process that can provide both atomic concentration and chemical specific information at pressures greater then 1 Torr.  Using synchrotron X-rays at Lawrence Berkeley Nation Laboratory, the Advanced Light Source has several beamlines dedicated to APXPS endstations that are outfitted with various in situ/operando features such as heating to temperatures > 500 °C and electrical leads to support applying electrical potentials supports the ability to collect XPS data of an actual electrochemical devices while its working in near ambient pressures.  This seminar will provide several solid/gas interface electrochemistry examples using in situ/operando APXPS to probe SOFC’s and lithium-air batteries.  Additionally, will highlight our newest in situ/operando APXPS endstation capable of operating at pressures greater then 20 Torr to probe the solid/liquid interface during an electrochemical reaction.  

Biography:　　

Education:  

　　► 2012 PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA  

　　► 2007 M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA  

　　► 2005 B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA  

　　Professional Experience:  

　　►  Research Scientist, ALS, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2014–present)  

　　►  Postdoctoral Researcher, ALS, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2012-2014)  

　　►  RallyPoint, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Cambridge, USA (2006-2012)  

　　►  OneWorld Medical Devices, Co-Founder and CTO, Cambridge, USA (2005-2012)  

　　►  Apple, Inc, Product Design Engineer Intern, Cupertino, CA, USA (2008)  

　　Fellowship, Award, Honor:  

　　►  International Solid State Ionics Young Scientist Award (2015)  

　　►  JCESR Directors Fund Award Recipient (2014)  

　　►  LBNL ALS Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012)  

　　►  Martin Family Socieity of Fellows for Sustainability (2007)  

　　Professional Activities and Committee Service:  

　　►  Co-organizer for 2nd Annual Near Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron SepctroscopyConference (2015)  

　　►  JCAP affiliate, (2015)  

　　Supervising of Scientists, Postdocs, and Students:  

　　►  Postdoctoral Scholars (5), PhD Students (1)  

　　Research Interest:  

　　Development of the in situ/operando instrumentation and science for ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) at both ‘soft’ and ‘tender’ X-ray regime to probe the solid/gas and solid/liquid interface, respectively. Our primary focus is on electrochemical systems, corrosion and probing fundamental science properties such as the electrochemical double layer.  

　　Selected Publications (over 40 peer-reviewed papers):  

　　1. Crumlin, E.J.; et al.; “X-ray Spectroscopy of Energy Materials under In situ/Operando Conditions”, J. of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, Invited Article, J. of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, Invited Review Article, 200, 264-273 (2015)  

　　2. Lichterman, F.M.;* Hu, S.;* Richter, M.H.;* Crumlin, E.J.;* et al; “Probing the Semiconductor/Liquid Interface of a Photoelectrochemical Cell by Operando X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy”, Energy & Environmental Science, 8 (8), 2409-2416 (2015).  

　　3. Axnanda, S.*; Crumlin, E.J.*; et al “Using “Tender” X-ray Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy as A Direct Probe of Solid-Liquid Interface” Scientific Reports 5, 9788 (2015).  

　　4. Lu, Y.C.*; Crumlin, E.J.*; et al., “In Situ Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Studies of Lithium-Oxygen Redox Reactions”, Scientific Reports, 2, 715 (2012).  

　　5. Crumlin, E.J.*; Mutoro, E.*; et al., “Surface Strontium Enrichment on Highly Active Perovskites for Oxygen Electrocatalysis in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”, Energy & Environmental Science, 5, 6081-6088 (2012).  

Time: Nov. 2, 2015(Monday), 9:30a.m.

Venue: Conference Room of Basic Energy Science Building