B12: Impact of plasma in liquid on electrodestructure and solution properties

Principal Investigators: Timo Jacob

Team

Jacob, Timo (Principal Investigator)

Forschner, Lukas (PhD)

Engstfeld, Albert (Senior Scientist)

Description

This project aims at using model electrodes to gain a fundamental understanding of the processes of plasma electrolysis at the interfaces between the plasma electrode and the electrolyte and between the plasma and liquid phases. The properties of the discharge dynamics and the formation of vapour layers and bubbles are to be investigated in detail, including mechanistic findings on the formation of nanoparticles. The knowledge from model electrodes will be transferred to more complex high surface area electrodes, further used in electrocatalytic applications, aiming at modifying these electrodes homogeneously by plasma electrolysis.

Publications

• Statistical Analysis of the Dynamic Behavior of Individual Discharges During the Ignition and Continuous Phases of Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis
  L. Forschner, J.-L. Gembus, L. Schücke, P. Awakowicz, A.R. Gibson, T. Jacob, A.K. Engstfeld
  J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 58, 215204 (2025)
  
• First-Principles Study on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Low-Index Cu₂O and CuO Surfaces
  S. E. Bogenrieder, J. Beßner, A. K. Engstfeld, T. Jacob
  J. Phys. Chem. C 128, 9693-9704 (2024)
  
• Tailoring Cu Electrodes for Enhanced CO₂ Electroreduction through Plasma Electrolysis in Non-Conventional Phosphorus-Oxoanion-Based Electrolytes
  M. M. Elnagar, P. V. Menezes, W. A. Parada, Y. Mattausch, L. A. Kibler, K. J.J. Mayrhofer, T. Jacob
  ChemSusChem 16, e202300934 (2023)
  
• In-Liquid Plasma-Mediated Manganese Oxide Electrocatalysts for Quasi-Industrial Water Oxidation and Selective Dehydrogenation
  I. Mondal, P. V. Menezes, K. Laun, T. Diemant, M. Al-Shakran, I. Zebger, T. Jacob, M. Driess, P. W. Menezes
  ACS Nano 17, 14043-14052 (2023)
  
• Activation of nickel foam through in-liquid plasma-induced phosphorus incorporation for efficient quasi-industrial water oxidation and selective oxygenation of organics
  H. Yang, P. V. Menezes, G. Dai, G. Vijaykumar, Z. Chen, M. Al-Shakran, T. Jacob, M. Driess, P. W. Menezes
  Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 324, 122249 (2023)
  
• Electric Potential Distribution Inside the Electrolyte during High Voltage Electrolysis
  L. Forschner, E. Artmann, T. Jacob, A. K. Engstfeld
  J. Phys. Chem. C 127, 4387-4394 (2023)
  Repository: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7534249
• Facet-Dependent Formation and Adhesion of Au Oxide and Nanoporous Au on Poly-Oriented Au Single Crystals
  E. Artmann, T. Schmider, T. Jacob, A. K. Engstfeld
  ChemPhysChem 24, e202300428 (2023)
  Repository: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7820779
• Nanoporous Au formation on Au substrates via high voltage electrolysis
  E. Artmann, L. Forschner, K. M. Schüttler, M. Al-Shakran, T. Jacob, A. K. Engstfeld
  ChemPhysChem 24, e202200645 (2023)
  Repository: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6973687
• In-Liquid Plasma for Surface Engineering of Cu Electrodes with Incorporated SiO₂ Nanoparticles: From Micro to Nano
  P. V. Menezes, M. M. Elnagar, M. Al-Shakran, M. J. Eckl, P. W. Menezes, L. Kibler, Ludwig, T. Jacob
  Adv. Funct. Mater. 32, 2107058 (2022)
  
• In-Liquid Plasma Modified Nickel Foam: NiOOH/NiFeOOH Active Site Multiplication for Electrocatalytic Alcohol, Aldehyde, and Water Oxidation
  J. N. Hausmann, P. V. Menezes, G. Vijaykumar, K. Laun, T. Diemant, I. Zebger, T. Jacob, M. Driess, P. W. Menezes
  Adv. Energy Mater. 12, 2202098 (2022)
  
• Using auxiliary electrochemical working electrodes as probe during contact glow discharge electrolysis: A proof of concept study
  E. Artmann, F. Forschner, T. Jacob, A. K. Engstfeld
  J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 40, 053005 (2022)
  Repository: https://zenodo.org/records/6424245
• Cathodic corrosion of Au in aqueous methanolic alkali metal hydroxide electrolytes: Notable role of water
  M. M. Elnagar, T. Jacob, L. A. Kibler
  Electrochem. Sci. Adv. 2, e2100175 (2022)
  
• Structural Evolution of Pt, Au and Cu Anodes by Electrolysis up to Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis in Alkaline Electrolytes
  E. Artmann, P. V. Menezes, L. Forschner, M. M. Elnagar, L. A. Kibler, T. Jacob, A. K. Engstfeld
  ChemPhysChem 22, 2429 - 244 (2021)
  
• Versatile 3D-Printed Micro-Reference Electrodes for Aqueous and Non-Aqueous Solutions
  F. M. Schuett, S. J. Zeller, M. J. Eckl, F. M. Matzik, M.-K. Heubach, T. Geng, J. M. Hermann, M. Uhl, L. A. Kibler, A. K. Engstfeld, T. Jacob
  Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 60, 22783 - 22790 (2021)
  

Thesis

• Tobias Schmider, Master thesis - 10/2022
  Influence of high voltage electrolysis on single crystal electrodes
• Lukas Forschner, PhD thesis - ongoing
  Impact of contact glow discharge electrolysis on the electrolyte and its influence on electrode surface structure formation
• Justus Leist, Master thesis - 01/2024
  HER and OER activity of CGDE-modified Ni expanded metals under close to industrial conditions
• Justus Leist, PhD thesis - ongoing
  Effect of contact glow discharge electrolysis modified transition metals on their catalytic activity
• Tim Bolter, Master thesis - 04/2025
  Temperature changes and production of reactive species during contact glow discharge electrolysis
• Evelyn Artmann, PhD thesis - 06/2023
  From Normal Electrolysis to anodic Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis: Stability of Materials and Influence on the Electrolyte
• Lukas Forschner, Master thesis - 12/2022
  Influence of High Voltage Electrolysis on the Electrolyte

Further reading