Seminar - Electrochemical and Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques for In Operando System Characterization

Abstract:

Electrochemical systems are at the heart of technologies that address pressing energy and environmental challenges, from energy storage to carbon capture. Understanding the behavior of these systems in operando is key to improving their performance, durability, and scalability. Characterizing the processes that govern their behavior is essential for guiding materials development and advancing system design. This talk will explore two powerful characterization approaches: electrochemical analysis and fluorescence microscopy, each offering distinct yet complementary insights into electrochemical systems. I will begin with a technical overview of key electrochemical techniques and discuss how they are used to quantify system performance. I will then introduce fluorescence microscopy as a spatially resolved, real-time tool that enables direct visualization of changes in the chemical environment within working electrochemical cells. Using examples from systems ranging from energy storage to CO₂ capture, I will highlight how these techniques, individually and in combination, have been used to uncover degradation pathways, inform reaction mechanisms, and evaluate material functionality.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Kiana Amini is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science at UBC Vancouver. She received her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, followed by her Master’s and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, where she specialized in development of metal-based redox flow batteries. She conducted her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University in the Department of Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering, where she developed a range of electrochemical systems, including organic-based redox flow batteries and electrochemical carbon capture technologies. In August 2024, Dr. Amini joined UBC. Her research group focuses on three applications of electrochemical systems: energy storage, carbon capture, and lithium extraction. Her work aims to bridge fundamental electrochemical science with practical applications, contributing to sustainable solutions for large-scale energy and environmental challenges.