Julian is currently a 4 th year graduate chemistry student with Prof. Peidong Yang, focusing on electrocatalytic CO 2 conversion. Specifically, he synthesizes novel nanomaterials and tries to understand their distinct performances with the help of X-ray spectroscopy and liquid-cell electron microscopy. He obtained his B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Munich, Germany.
As a Kavli fellow, Julian will continue to explore promising spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and adapt them for the operando characterization of electrocatalysts. For example, total electron yield X-ray absorption spectroscopy allows collection of spectra from within a few nanometers of the solid-liquid interface and can be leveraged to reveal more detailed information about both the catalyst active sites and the surrounding electrolyte microenvironment. Using this technique, Julian will try to understand the restructuring of copper nanoparticles during CO2 electroreduction on a molecular level.