Introducing Dr. Paul Duchesne to the Department of Chemistry
Dr. Duchesne completed his PhD studies at Dalhousie University, where he specialized in electrocatalytic nanomaterials and X-ray spectroscopy, and was supported by Killam Trust and NSERC research scholarships. Later, as an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto, he worked to directly incorporate solar energy into catalytic carbon dioxide reduction. Dr. Duchesne’s research group will emphasize the in situ characterization of nanoscale materials, particularly those used to synthesize renewable fuels and value-added chemicals. This research will employ low-cost, Earth-abundant materials and powerful X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques to provide critical insights into the chemical speciation and interactions occurring at the surfaces of heterogeneous catalysts. By better understanding the surface processes involved in these chemical reactions, it will be possible to design next-generation catalyst materials with increased activity and stability.