Seoul National Univ. DMSE
Notice
Seminar & Colloquium
Seminar & Colloquium
[세미나: 2월 10일(월), 오전 10시 30분] Prof. Minju Chung, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST
| Titles | Electrochemical propylene epoxidation using water as the oxygen source
| Speaker | Prof. Minju Chung
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST
*Professional Experience
- 2025-present Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST
- 2023-2024 Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- 2018-2023 Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- 2014-2018 B.S. Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University
| Date | Monday, February 10th, 2025
| Time | 10:30~
| Venue | 43-2동 B101호
| Abstract |
Current propylene oxide production relies on highly energy-intensive and hazardous oxidants, such as chlorine and peroxides. While direct oxidation of propylene using molecular oxygen has been explored as an alternative solution, achieving high selectivity for propylene oxide is challenging due to the allylic hydrogen stripping in propylene and consequent further oxidation. In this regard, a selective direct propylene epoxidation pathway using water as a cleaner and easily accessible oxygen source would present a compelling alternative to the current epoxidation methods. Oxidized palladium-platinum alloy catalysts enable efficient direct oxygen-atom transfer from water to propylene, which reaches a Faradaic efficiency >60% toward propylene epoxidation at 50 mA/cm2 at ambient temperature and pressure. Embedding platinum into the palladium oxide crystal structure stabilized oxidized platinum species, resulting in improved catalyst performance. The reaction mechanism was investigated using a multi-faceted approach including kinetic rate measurements, probe substrate analysis, and substrate-based descriptor assessment. The reaction kinetics suggest that epoxidation on this catalyst proceeds through the electrophilic attack by metal-bound peroxo intermediates. This work demonstrates an effective strategy for selective electrochemical oxygen-atom transfer from water for diverse oxygenation reactions.
| Host | 한정우 교수 (02-880-1608)