ULB: Chemistry of Surfaces, Interfaces and Nanomaterials (ChemSIN)

General expertise of the research group

ChemSIN (formerly Chani) is a research service of the Faculty of Sciences. It brings together 4 academics, 30 researchers, 4 technicians and 1 secretary. Research activities focus on the chemistry of atmospheric plasmas (F. Reniers), Catalysis (T. Visart), electrochemistry (T. Doneux) and nanoelectrochemistry (J. Ustarroz). The studies cover various aspects of the chemistry of surfaces and interfaces since they relate to the modification, characterization and study of the reactivity of surfaces. These studies carried out at the solid-solution interface and at the solid-gas interface relate to the modification of surfaces (metals, metal electrodes and polymers) by chemical or electrochemical means, by self-assembly as well as by plasma techniques.

Thin films, organized monolayers and nanostructured surfaces can thus be produced and characterized. Characterizations involve the use of a wide range of advanced (nanoscale) electrochemical methods, spectroscopy, microscopy, as well as contact angles.

The surface properties are evaluated mainly in connection with the development of “intelligent” materials, biosensors and electrocatalysis (environmental electrochemistry, batteries, fuel cells, electrolysis), electrodialysis, biocompatibility, development of barrier layers, etc.

Specific hydrogen- related expertise & research topics

• Synthesis of H2 by atmospheric plasma and plasma electrolysis (in solution)
• Development of new electrocatalysts for water electrolysis
• Assessment of H2 electrocatalyst activity and durability with high-throughput experimentation, (in-situ) correlative microscopy and machine learning
• new catalysts for the catalytic synthesis of hydrogen (steam reforming of methane and water gas shift)
• new catalysts (e.g. for the Haber-Bosch process or plasma catalysis ammonia)
• barrier layers to hydrogen diffusion, membranes or functionalization of bipolar plates for fuel cells, anti-corrosion layers for the storage and transport of ammonia

Available equipment/tools:

• 15 atmospheric plasma reactors and torches, with generators going from continuous DC, AC to nanopulse
• 3 high-resolution scanning electrochemical microscopes (SECCM, SECM) and ~10 electrochemical workstations (including FRA, EQCM, RDE, RRDE)
• micro-XPS for surface analysis, infrared spectroscopy, raman spectroscopy, AFM
• (atmospheric) mass spectrometry, gas chromatography
• in-situ electrochemical TEM holder (to study operando degradation of electrocatalysts)

Participating in FL/B/EU funded projects with H2 related research:

• Plasma-ChemSIN (F.Reniers) is member of the EoS (Excellence of science, joint B-FNRS/FWO program) “PlaSyntH2” dedicated to the synthesis of hydrogen by plasma
• Plasma-ChemSIN is member of the FEDER-RW Decarbowal portfolio (project SynfonHy) dedicated to have an electrified circular loop hydrogen – nitrogen – ammonia
• Plasma-ChemSIN ismember of the EoS Nitroplasm project (finishing dec.2023) dedicated to the fixation of nitrogen by plasma (to nitrogen oxides and ammonia).
• F. Reniers was member of the GAZTON project (Greenwin-RW project) dedicated to the conversion of CO2 (and CH4) by plasma to make useful molecules and hydrogen
• F. Reniers was member of the Hylife and Innopem projects (RW) dedicated to the development of membranes and catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells
• Nano-ChemSIN (J. Ustarroz) is member of the Innoviris funded research project NDIAMO dedicated to develop advanced electron diffraction techniques for electrochemical applications, including H2 synthesis by water electrolysis.
• J. Ustarroz holds an ARC-Consolidator grant (RENEGADE) to study, among other topics, the initial stages of electrocatalyst degradation by local electrochemistry and in-situ TEM.
• J. Ustarroz was the PI of the FNRS-MIS project (EdNANO) to develop a nano-electrochemical platform to measure the electrochemical response of single
  nanoparticles.
• Plasma-ChemSIN (F.Reniers) and Nano-ChemSIN (J Ustarroz) are partners of the Win4Excellence “ TinTHyN” PhD portfolio submitted to the RW (sept.2023), dedicated to fund PhD thesis on hydrogen research.

Main relevant publications

1. – CO2–CH4 conversion and syngas formation at atmospheric pressure using a multi-electrode dielectric barrier discharge, A Ozkan, T Dufour, G Arnoult, P De Keyzer, A Bogaerts, F Reniers, Journal of CO2 utilization 9, 74-81 (2015)
2. Disproportionation of nitrogen induced by DC plasma-driven electrolysis in a nitrogen atmosphere , C. Pattyn, N. Maira, M. Buddhadasa, E. Vervloessem, S. Iséni, N. Roy, A. Remy, M-P Delplancke, N. De Geyter, F. Reniers Green Chemistry 24 (18), 7100-7112 (2022)
3. Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a DBD plasma: role of microdischarges and their afterglows , K van ‘t Veer, Y Engelmann, F Reniers, A Bogaerts , The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 124 (42), 22871-22883 (2020)
4. Fuel cell electrodes from organometallic platinum precursors: an easy atmospheric plasma approach, D Merche, T Dufour, J Baneton, G Caldarella, V Debaille, N Job, F. Reniers, Plasma processes and polymers 13 (1), 91-104 (2016)
5. Synthesis of Membrane‐Electrode Assembly for Fuel Cells by Means of (Sub)‐Atmospheric Plasma Processes,D Merche, T Dufour, J Hubert, C Poleunis, S
   Yunus, A Delcorte, P. Bertrand, F. Reniers, Plasma processes and polymers 9 (11‐12), 1144-1153 (2012)
6. Electrochemical behavior of electrodeposited nanoporous Pt catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. B Geboes, J Ustarroz, K Sentosun, H Vanrompay, A Hubin, S Bals, T. Breugelmans. ACS Catalysis 6 (9), 5856-5864 (2016)
7. Mobility and poisoning of mass-selected platinum nanoclusters during the oxygen reduction reaction. J Ustarroz, IM Ornelas, G Zhang, D Perry, M Kang, CL Bentley, M Walker, PR Unwin. ACS Catalysis 8 (8), 6775-6790 (2018)
8. Electrodeposition of nanostructured catalysts for electrochemical energy conversion: Current trends and innovative strategies. MB Lopez, J Ustarroz. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 27, 100688
9. Estimating pitting descriptors of 316 L stainless steel by machine learning and statistical analysis LB Coelho, D Torres, V Vangrunderbeek, M Bernal, GM Paldino, G Bontempi, J. Ustarroz. npj Materials Degradation 7 (1), 82 (2023)