This week's speaker is:

Samuel Sahel-Schakis, Ph.D. Candidate, Stanford University
"How Light Drives Chemistry on Nanoparticles"

Abstract:

A sustainable energy economy depends on finding efficient replacements for the fossil-fuel chemistry that powers it today. Decarbonizing reactions like green hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis, methanol synthesis, and CO₂ reduction starts with understanding how they work. This talk shows how ultrafast X-ray free-electron lasers let us watch the very first steps of these reactions unfold on individual nanoparticles, capturing how light, charge, and surface structure conspire to break and form bonds — and what that tells us about designing the next generation of photocatalysts.

Bio:

Samuel is a fourth-year Physics PhD candidate (with a CS PhD minor) at Stanford University, working in Prof. Matthias Kling's Ultrafast Electronics and Nanophotonics Group at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He studies ultrafast processes through free-electron laser experiments at facilities worldwide, paired with ML-driven simulations. His primary research focus is photocatalysis on nanoparticles.

The topics of this seminar are broad but typically fall under technologies’ scaling potential and impact on (the system of) people, the environment and the economy. A particular focus is placed on the interaction potential of technologies with the energy, water, and material systems. Our goal is to create an intimate, collaborative space for students, postdocs, scientists, and PIs within Stanford across micro-level (material and technology) to macro-level (system) interests. These seminars will provide an opportunity to disseminate insights from your studies, connect with fellow researchers, and strengthen bonds across the community.