2024-LS-360 RFP Electrochemical System

*** YOU MUST GO TO MERX.COM TO VIEW THE RFP DOCUMENTS AND SUBMIT A BID (search Reference Number 0000272222 or Solicitation Number 2024-LS-360) ***

SFU is seeking an electrochemical system that will enable the development of a variety of advanced materials including electrocatalysts and sensors. This system will enable sensitive measurements to better understand our materials and to guide the development of the next generation of advanced materials for these and other applications. Outlined below are characteristics of the essential components in the electrochemical system, which includes advanced training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) on these features.
- Ability to control three and four electrode set-ups (e.g., a bipotentiostat). This system should be equipped for electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and dissipative EQCM (EQCM-D) or an equivalent system, electrochemical noise (ECN) measurements or the equivalent, spectroelectrochemistry modules (e.g., UV-Vis or UV-Vis-NIR or NIR to Mid-IR), rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) set-up, rotating disk electrode (RDE) set-up, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements.
- Capability to monitor electrochemical reactions with a high sensitivity using modules that include EQCM/EQCM-D. A system capable of measuring changes in mass on a solid support, including an electrode or at an electrified interface (e.g., electrode coated with an ultrathin oxide) with a sensitivity ≤10 ng/cm². Changes in mass are measured through recording changes in the resonant frequency of a quartz crystal oscillator that is coated with a suitable, planar metal film as the working electrode (preference is for a Pt film). System needs to include a suitable reference electrode and counter electrode (specify the type and composition and size of each) to perform three-electrode measurements in a range of solvent systems (specify the compatibility of the system to different solvents, electrolytes and electrolyte concentrations) and over a range of temperatures (e.g., elevated temperatures up to 80 °C are of interest to us; please specify the temperature range of each electrode). And ideally has the ability to simultaneously monitor the temperature of the electrolyte.
- Ability to perform low noise measurements for sensitive electrochemical analyses (e.g., EQCM), isolating the system under test from environmental factors that include noise from unwanted light sources (e.g., electronics of compact fluorescent lamps) and other electronics, as well as noise resulting from air handling systems (e.g., high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to avoid environmental contaminants, fume hoods to handle toxic chemicals). A Faraday cage is sought for a range of measurements (e.g., EQCM, RRDE, ECN) with a pass-through for cables, gas lines, rotors. Clarify the dimensions, number and size of ports, and if there is a viewing window.
- Capable of performing true analog sweeps of the applied potential at rates sufficient for measuring transient effects, such as adsorption and desorption of chemical species on electrocatalysts.
- Capability of performing low-noise RRDE measurements as required for electrochemical measurements of reaction intermediates and other species under hydrodynamic conditions of electrolyte flux in proximity to a working electrode. A system capable of friction-less, low noise measurements for rotations between 100 and 10,000 rpm. Requires the ability to change out the central electrode (e.g., glassy carbon) and contain a metal ring disk electrode (e.g., platinum).
- Ability to interface with a variety of solvent systems; a chemically inert housing is sought for the electrodes (e.g., PEEK or polyether ether ketone) that is resistant towards an array of solvent conditions (e.g., water, alcohols, glycols) and compatible with typical concentrations of acidic or basic electrolytes used in our research (e.g., ≤10% H₂SO₄ or ≤18 M KOH). Specify the housing type for the RRDE and RDE electrodes provided, as well as the housing for the other (counter and reference) electrodes provided. Specify the temperature range for each type of housing provided that will be immersed in electrolyte (e.g., RDE and RRDE housing, as well as other electrode support materials). Note that some housing might be applicable for lower temperatures and separate housing for higher temperatures, but we expect that options will be provided for both ambient and elevated temperatures (e.g., reaching or exceeding 80 °C).
- This system should be configured as a bipotentiostat with control over 2, 3, or 4 electrodes. Four electrodes are required for RRDE experiments, for example, where two working electrodes are independently controlled at the same time. The system should be able to apply up to at least 10 V to either electrode during RRDE measurements. The system should include the necessary motor, electronics and software for low noise measurements while rotating the working electrode(s) in both an RRDE and an RDE configuration. The housings for the working electrode in the RDE or RRDE configuration should be chemically compatible and durable as outlined above, but these housings should also be further customizable as needed. Electrodes should be provided for the RRDE configuration that include a Pt ring electrode and a Pt central electrode, but the central electrode should be changeable to a glassy carbon electrode as needed (specify the dimensions of each and alternative configurations if available). And electrodes should be provided in the RDE configuration with a changeable 5-mm diameter glassy carbon electrode. And include a graphite rod to serve as a counter electrode, and a Ag/AgCl electrode as the reference electrode, each appropriately sized for working with the RRDE and RDE set-ups (specify the size of each and filling solution used in the reference electrode).
- The system should have a high compliance voltage (e.g., 30 V) that enables experiments in low conductivity electrolytes or non-aqueous solutions, as well as for enabling electrophoretic deposition experiments.
- Ability to study electrocatalytic reactions and other processes at a working electrode through forced convection achieved using an RDE for gaining additional insights into reaction kinetics and mechanisms. This will include performing linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) measurements and Koutecký-Levich analyses with the ability to perform low noise measurements at rotations between 100 and 10,000 rpm.
- Ability to assess corrosion of materials through ECN or similar analyses; specify the types of measurements possible and provide the specifications for these measurements.
- Ability to perform impedance and EIS measurements in potentiostatic and galvanostatic modes over a wide range of frequencies (e.g., 10 mHz to ≥5 MHz) while controlling electrode rotation speed for hydrodynamic control or modulating light exposure for photo-triggered processes.
- Capability of obtaining spectroelectrochemical measurements through correlating UV-Vis-NIR absorbance spectra (e.g., 200 to 1100 nm) or NIR (e.g., 700 to 2500 nm) to Mid-IR (e.g., 2500 nm to 25 mm or 400 to 4000 cm^-1) absorbance spectra of chemical species in the electrolyte (e.g., metal complexes, products from electrochemical transformations of organic species) with processes taking place at electrified interfaces (e.g., control over light exposure and applied potential). Light source for excitation over a broad range of wavelengths (e.g., appropriate for the spectral range of interest). Chemically resistant fittings for interfacing the light source and spectrometer with a variety of solvents and electrolytes, or specify how the spectrometer interfaces with the electrochemical measurements. Appropriate optics (e.g., fiber optics) where applicable for connecting the components needed to perform these measurements. Include an appropriate reaction cell for performing these measurements that integrates the hardware you are providing (provision of a third party electrochemical cell is allowable).
- Ability to achieve industrially relevant current densities (e.g., >1 A/cm² requiring an output of ≥10 A) at working electrodes for gas evolution reactions and to test materials durability (e.g., microscale to ≥10 cm² substrates).
- Capability of low current (pA or better) and high resolution (e.g., <0.5 fA) measurements to discern subtle materials transformations, to study ion transport in porous materials, as well as to use small-scale electrodes (e.g., microscale electrodes, electrodes incorporated into microfluidic or on-chip type technologies).
- Ability to perform battery cycling tests at slow scan rates (e.g., μV/s or slower) on single coin cells with appropriate hardware and software to house and test single coin cells. We will provide our own, custom coin cells for testing.
- see RFP on MERX for additional specifications

SFU’s budget for instrument purchase is $150,000 CAD including taxes at 8.65%, and including delivery and insurance to SFU Burnaby (Inco DAP), at least 1-year warranty, and on-site training.

We are a team of researchers working at the forefront of clean energy technologies, electrochemical synthesis and/or transformations, electrochemical sensing, and related processes that require the design and testing of advanced materials. These materials include new metal alloys, new composites, new molecular catalysts, new designs of structured or textured materials, and more! To facilitate the development of materials and technologies at the forefront of our fields of study, we must overcome the limitations of our current infrastructure. More sensitive electrochemical measurements are critical to our making these advances. These measurements will enable a variety of clean energy technologies that include better methods at capturing and transforming gases that contribute to climate change (e.g., carbon capture), more efficient methods of creating key ingredients for fertilizers (e.g., nitrogen or nitrate conversion to ammonia), expanding the generation of other value-added products (e.g., conversion of chemical waste products into reagents, more efficient mineral extraction), improved mitigation of surface fouling (e.g., biological and/or chemical), and enhanced sensitivity to key chemical analytes dissolved in solutions (e.g., monitoring of waste water, patient health). Each of these areas are of critical importance for all Canadians to ensure food and water security, timely and affordable health care solutions, a healthy natural environment, and access to clean energy technologies. Enabling this future for all Canadians is an important outcome of the research we are pursuing. This pursuit will require continued innovation with regards to our ability to monitor and control transformations taking place at the surfaces of materials and, as the case for these studies, an ability to perform sensitive electrochemical measurements of the processes taking place thereupon. Another key outcome of the research that will be enabled by access to this equipment will be the training of highly qualified personnel. The sensitive measurements will provide highly qualified personnel with the critical information and hands-on training they need to assess the performance of their advanced materials. These personnel will engage in a process of designing, making, and measuring, followed by a refinement of their design and repeating this process as they aim to create high performance materials while also gaining valuable skills. In addition, on-going collaborations between the co-applicants will enable these highly qualified personnel to have access to a range of expertise throughout this process. The requested infrastructure will replace aging equipment with more sensitive systems that will enable sophisticated electrochemical measurements that are critical to enabling this team of researchers to evaluate and guide the design of these advanced materials.