Department Seminar Series: Veronica Augustyn, Ph.D.
Monday, February 2, 2026 · 12 - 1 PM
This event is part of the CBEE DEPARTMENT SEMINAR SERIES
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CBEE Department Seminar Series
Veronica Augustyn, Ph.D.
University Faculty Scholar, Jake and Jennifer Hooks Distinguished Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University
Title: Proton-insertion coupled electron transfer in metal oxides for energy and optical applications
Abstract:
Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is a central process in chemistry, underpinning key reactions in biology, energy technologies, and emerging electronic and optical systems. Within this broad class of reactions, a distinctive subset involves proton-insertion coupled electron transfer (PICET), in which protons enter the host lattice alongside electrons. In this seminar, I will explore the fundamental aspects of PICET using tungsten oxides as a model system. Tungsten oxides are among the few non-noble metal oxides that demonstrate good stability in strongly acidic environments, making them an ideal platform for these studies. I will discuss how PICET drives bulk structural dynamics and contrast their behavior with cation insertion-coupled electron transfer. I will also highlight our recent work on interfacial phenomena, including the role of electrolyte proton donors in governing PICET kinetics and the use of hydrogenated tungsten oxides to probe PCET between metal oxides and organic molecules. Together, these studies provide new insights into how PCET across length scales, from crystal lattices to interfaces.
Biography:
Veronica Augustyn is the Jake and Jennifer Hooks Distinguished Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on the electrochemistry of materials, and especially transition metal oxides, for energy and environmental applications. Recent topics include understanding interfacial phenomena, insertion mechanisms, and nanoconfinement effects. She supports the materials electrochemistry community as a Scientific Editor of the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, serves on the editorial advisory boards of several journals including ACS Energy Letters, ACS Electrochemistry, and Physical Review Materials, and is a Member-at-Large of the Electrochemical Society Battery Division.
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