Astrid M. Müller
University of Rochester
Seminar Information
Electrocatalysis offers a transformative pathway for sustainable chemical production by replacing fossil fuel–based processes with energy-efficient technologies powered by renewable electricity. It also holds great promise for addressing the urgent global challenge of remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water. To be viable, electrocatalytic systems must employ nonprecious materials, operate in aqueous environments, minimize energy consumption, and effectively degrade harmful pollutants, requirements that demand a fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms and the strategic design of nanocatalysts with tailored properties.
Our research leverages pulsed laser in liquid synthesis to fabricate nanocatalysts with precisely controlled surface properties, enabling a quantitative understanding of electrocatalytic processes,particularly within the complex electrode microenvironment. We have shown that laser- synthesized, earth-abundant mixed-metal nanocatalysts supported on high-surface-area carbon materials can selectively oxidize toluene to benzyl alcohol with high activity. Furthermore, we have achieved complete defluorination of a range of PFAS in aqueous electrolytes using laser- made bimetallic nanocatalysts.
The unifying theme of our group is to advance the design and fabrication of nanocatalysts for the electrocatalytic generation of reactive species from water, aimed at sustainable applications. This work is based on a detailed atomistic understanding of catalyst materials, electrode microenvironments, and electrocatalytic mechanisms, with the ultimate goal of enabling environmentally friendly and scalable solutions for chemical manufacturing and water remediation.
Astrid M. Müller is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester since 2018, with affiliations in the Materials Science Program, the Department of Chemistry, and the Institute of Human Health and the Environment. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Technical University of Munich in Germany, earning the equivalent of a double major at the BS and MS level in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Prof. Müller obtained her PhD in Physical Chemistry (magna cum laude) for work on ultrafast reaction dynamics at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Germany. Her postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley and UC Riverside involved developing a fundamental understanding of laser–matter interactions. As a staff scientist at Caltech, she pioneered the pulsed laser synthesis of earth-abundant water-splitting materials to enable decarbonization technologies. Her independent research centers on gaining a quantitative understanding of electrocatalytic processes and reactive species from water, utilizing pulsed laser techniques to create nanomaterials with controlled surface properties. This work uniquely positions Prof. Müller’s group to understand how nanocatalysts and electrocatalytic mechanisms impact the performance of nanomaterials in sustainable chemical manufacturing, aqueous PFAS destruction, and energy
conversion applications.