Carol Korzeniewski

Professor

Ph.D., University of Utah, 1987

Postdoctoral Study, University of Texas

Phone: (806) 742-4181
Fax: (806) 742-1289

Analytical Chemistry

Professor Korzeniewski's research involves using sensitive analytical techniques to monitor chemical and physical processes at liquid-metal interfaces. These processes are classified as electrochemical and play a vital role in many areas of technological importance.

One area of research involves mapping pathways of surface catalyzed organic oxidation reactions. Small alcohols and aldehydes are under study, because of their importance as fuel cell reactants and intermediates. The oxidation of these species at the surface of a transition metal catalyst, such as platinum, releases electrical energy. Fuel cells based on the oxidation of hydrogen supply electricity for space exploration, and methanol powered fuel cells are investigated for use in commercial power generation and electric vehicles. The Korzeniewski group studies factors that cause efficiency loss in these reactions. Electrochemical, spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques are used. Infrared spectroscopy aids the identification of species that block, or poison, the catalyst surface. Detection at the picomole level can be achieved for certain adsorbates. Gas and liquid chromatography allow the identification of soluble, partial oxidation products.

A related area of research involves the study of adsorption at metal-liquid interfaces. The adsorption of carbon monoxide (CO), an important fuel cell intermediate, is studied most often. Infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate how the voltage (potential) applied to the metal influences the chemical bonding and two dimensional structure of CO molecules on the surface. Defining experimental conditions whereby molecules bonded to different structural sites on surfaces can be identified based on independent infrared absorption bands has been an important focus (see publications below). More recently, we have been probing the energetics of CO adsorption on electrodes. We have designed a thermostatted electrochemical cell that allows infrared measurements to be made at temperatures above and below ambient. Processes under investigation include the isothermal desorption of carbon monoxide and thermal activation of carbon monoxide and methanol oxidation.

Single crystal materials are used frequently in this research to investigate how the arrangement of atoms on the metal surface affects adsorption and reactivity. Many of the single crystals are grown and oriented in the laboratory. We also prepare Pt and Pt-Ru crystallites for use as fuel cell catalysts.

 

 Selected Publications

  • "Hydration and Interfacial Water in Nafion Membrane Probed by Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy" Basnayake, R. Peterson, G.R. Casadonte, D.J., Jr. and Korzeniewski, C. J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 23938.
  • "A Study of Formaldehyde Formation During Methanol Oxidation Over PtRu Bulk Alloys and Nanometer Scale Catalysts" Islam, M.; Basnayake, R; Korzeniewski, C. J. Electroanal. Chem. 2007 599, 31. 
  • "Transmission IR Spectroscopy as a Probe of Nafion Film Structure:  Identification and Resolution of Complex Spectral Regions Fundamental to Understanding Hydration Effects" Korzeniewski, C.; Snow, D. Basnayake, R. Applied Spectroscopy 2006, 60, 599-604.
  • "PtRu Nanoparticle Electrocatalyst with Bulk Alloy Properties Prepared Through a Sonochemical Method" Basnayake, R.; Li, Z.; Lakshmi, S.; Zhou, W.; Smotkin, E.S.; Casadonte, D.J., Jr; Korzeniewski, C. Langmuir 2006, 22, 10446-10450. 
  • Korzeniewski, C. "Recent Advances in In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy and Applications in Single Crystal Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis" In Advances in Electrochemical Science and Engineering Volume X:  In situ Spectroscopic and Diffraction Methods, R. Alkire, D.M. Kolb, J. Lipkowski and P.N. Ross, Eds. (2006).
  • "From nanochannel-induced proton conduction enhancement to a nanochannel-based fuel cell" Liu ,S.R.; Pu, Q.S.; Gao, L.; Korzeniewski, C.; Matzke, C. Nano Letters 2005, 5,1389-1393.
  • "The Efficiency of Methanol Conversion to CO2 on Thin Films of Pt and PtRu Fuel Cell Catalysts" Gao, L.; Huang, H.; Korzeniewski, C. Electrochim. Acta (Special Issue on Electrocatalysis) 2004, 49, 1281-1287.
  • "Methanol Electrochemical Oxidation at Nanometer-Scale PtRu Materials" Korzeniewski, C.; Basnayake, R.; Vijayaraghavan, G.; Li, Z.; Xu, S.; Casadonte, D.J., Jr. Surf. Sci. 2004, 573, 100. 
  • "Quantification of CO2 from electrochemical oxidation reactions with a strategy based on transmission infrared spectroscopy", Huang, H.; Korzeniewski, C. Electrochim. Acta (Special Fuel Cell Issue) 2003, 47, 3675.
  • "Use of a Dynamic Monte Carlo Simulation in the Study of Nucleation-Growth Models for CO Electrochemical Oxidation", Korzeniewski, C.; Kardash, D.  J. Phys. Chem. 2001, 105, 8663-8671.
  • "Effects of Thermal Activation on the Oxidation Pathways of Methanol at Pt-Ru Alloy Electrodes", Kardash, D.; Korzeniewski, C.; Markovic, N.M. J. Electroanal. Chem. 2001, 500, 518.
  • "Formaldehyde Yields from Methanol Electrochemical Oxidation on Platinum", Korzeniewski, C.; Childers, C.L, J. Phys. Chem. B 1998, 102, 489.
  • C. Korzeniewski, “Infrared Spectroelectrochemistry” In Handbook of Vibrational Spectroscopy, J.M. Chalmers and P.R. Griffiths, Eds., Wiley: New York, Volume 4, (2002) pp. 2699 - 2710.

Research Pages

AC Division Cume Announcement

Science, It's a Girl Thing Chemistry Program, June 2003

Chemistry 3341, Fall 2007

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