Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a common technique to determine size and zeta potential of colloidal particles in a suspension. It is used to determine relevant properties of the catalyst inks used to fabricate electrodes of electrochemical energy conversion devices, such as fuel cells and electrolysers. These properties include the surface charge of catalyst and catalyst supports, ink stability, catalyst-ionomer interaction.

In this webinar, Prof. Iryna Zenyuk and Prantik Saha discuss how DLS helps prepare catalyst inks with the high electrochemical performance required for the optimal design of these systems, and thus, helps build a zero-carbon emissions society.

Iryna Zenyuk is associate professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, US. She has a joint appointment as associate professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department and is associate director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC). Prof. Zenyuk holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University, US. Her graduate work focused on the fundamental understanding of meso-scale interfacial transport phenomena and electric double layers in fuel cells. As a postdoc in Dr Adam Weber’s group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) from 2014–2015, Prof. Zenyuk investigated water-management in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEFCs) using X-ray CT (computed tomography) and modelling. She joined Tufts University, US, as assistant professor from 2015–2018 and moved to the University of California, Irvine in 2018. Her mission at NFCRC is to accelerate and facilitate the development and deployment of fuel cell technology and fuel cell systems. Prof. Zenyuk has published more than 40 journal articles on electrochemical technologies and given more than 60 invited presentations. Her passion is to enable renewable energy technologies and ensure that society advances toward a zero-emissions electric grid.

Prantik Saha joined Prof. Iryna Zenyuk’s lab at the University of California, Irvine, US, in 2017 as a PhD student researcher. Saha’s thesis focuses on understanding aspects of electrochemical double layer at electrocatalyst-electrolyte interface, for which he developed a new method combining electrochemistry and electrokinetics. He uses dynamic light scattering (DLS) occasionally for his thesis research. Along with research in zero-carbon energy systems, he is passionate about networking activities at the professional level to develop the business of these technologies. Saha received his BSc in physics from the University of Calcutta, India, and MS in physics from Tufts University, US.