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Liang Q, Meng F, Li W, Zou X, Song K, Ge X, Jiang Z, Liu Y, Liu M, Li Z, Dong T, Chen Z, Zhang W, Zheng W. Atom-by-atom optimizing the surface termination of Fe-Pt intermetallic catalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:1091-1099. [PMID: 38395650 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Controlling the atomic arrangement of elemental atoms in intermetallic catalysts to govern their surface and subsurface properties is a crucial but challenging endeavor in electrocatalytic reactions. In hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), adjusting the d-band center of the conventional noble-metallic Pt by introducing Fe enables the optimization of catalytic performance. However, a notable gap exists in research on the effective transition from disordered Fe/Pt alloys to highly ordered intermetallic compounds (IMCs) such as FePt3 in the alkaline HER, hampering their broader application. In this study, a series of catalysts FePt3-xH (x = 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized via a simple impregnation method, along with a range of heat treatment processes, including annealing in a reductive atmosphere, to regulate the order degree of the arrangement of Fe/Pt atoms within the FePt3 catalyst. By using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, we systematically explored the impact of the order degree of FePt3 in the HER. The as-prepared FePt3-8H exhibited notable HER catalytic activity with low overpotentials (η = 37 mV in 1.0 mol L-1 KOH) at j = 10 mA cm-2. The surface of the L12 FePt3-8H catalyst was demonstrated to be Pt-rich. The Pt on the surface was not easily oxidized due to the unique Fe/Pt coordination, resulting in significant enhancement of HER performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liang
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Fanling Meng
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Wenwen Li
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Xu Zou
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Kexin Song
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Xin Ge
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Zhou Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yuhua Liu
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Meiqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Taowen Dong
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Zhongjun Chen
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
| | - Weitao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Electron Microscopy Center, International Center of Future Science, Jilin Provincial International Cooperation Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Clean Energy Materials, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
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Botman A, Mulders JJL, Hagen CW. Creating pure nanostructures from electron-beam-induced deposition using purification techniques: a technology perspective. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2009; 20:372001. [PMID: 19706953 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/37/372001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The creation of functional nanostructures by electron-beam-induced deposition (EBID) is becoming more widespread. The benefits of the technology include fast 'point-and-shoot' creation of three-dimensional nanostructures at predefined locations directly within a scanning electron microscope. One significant drawback to date has been the low purity level of the deposition. This has two independent causes: (1) partial or incomplete decomposition of the precursor molecule and (2) contamination from the residual chamber gas. This frequently limits the functionality of the structure, hence it is desirable to improve the decomposition and prevent the inclusion of contaminants. In this contribution we review and compare for the first time all the techniques specifically aimed at purifying the as-deposited impure EBID structures. Despite incomplete and scattered data, we observe some general trends: application of heat (during or after deposition) is usually beneficial to some extent; working in a favorable residual gas (ultra-high vacuum set-ups or plasma cleaning the chamber) is highly recommended; gas mixing approaches are extremely variable and not always reproducible between research groups; and carbon-free precursors are promising but tend to result in oxygen being the contaminant species rather than carbon. Finally we highlight a few novel approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Botman
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
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Furuya K. Nanofabrication by advanced electron microscopy using intense and focused beam ∗. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF ADVANCED MATERIALS 2008; 9:014110. [PMID: 27877936 PMCID: PMC5099805 DOI: 10.1088/1468-6996/9/1/014110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2008] [Revised: 05/27/2008] [Accepted: 03/13/2008] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The nanogrowth and nanofabrication of solid substances using an intense and focused electron beam are reviewed in terms of the application of scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM and STEM) to control the size, position and structure of nanomaterials. The first example discussed is the growth of freestanding nanotrees on insulator substrates by TEM. The growth process of the nanotrees was observed in situ and analyzed by high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) and was mainly controlled by the intensity of the electron beam. The second example is position- and size-controlled nanofabrication by STEM using a focused electron beam. The diameters of the nanostructures grown ranged from 4 to 20 nm depending on the size of the electron beam. Magnetic nanostructures were also obtained using an iron-containing precursor gas, Fe(CO)5. The freestanding iron nanoantennas were examined by electron holography. The magnetic field was observed to leak from the nanostructure body which appeared to act as a 'nanomagnet'. The third example described is the effect of a vacuum on the size and growth process of fabricated nanodots containing W in an ultrahigh-vacuum field-emission TEM (UHV-FE-TEM). The size of the dots can be controlled by changing the dose of electrons and the partial pressure of the precursor. The smallest particle size obtained was about 1.5 nm in diameter, which is the smallest size reported using this method. Finally, the importance of a smaller probe and a higher electron-beam current with atomic resolution is emphasized and an attempt to develop an ultrahigh-vacuum spherical aberration corrected STEM (Cs-corrected STEM) at NIMS is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Furuya
- High Voltage Electron Microscopy Station, National Institute for Materials Science, 3-13 Sakura, Tsukuba 305-0003, Japan
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