Computational predictive design for metal-decorated-graphene size-specific subnanometer to nanometer ORR catalysts

Size, Composition, and Support-Doping Effects on Oxygen Reduction Activity of Platinum-Alloy and on Non-platinum Metal-Decorated-Graphene Nanocatalysts

Recent investigations reported in the open literature concerning the functionalization of graphene as a support material for transition metal nanoparticle catalysts have examined isolated systems for their potential Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) activity. In this work we present results which characterize the ability to use functionalized graphene (via dopants B, N) to upshift and downshift the adsorption energy of mono-atomic oxygen, O* (the ORR activity descriptor on ORR Volcano Plots), for various compositions of 4-atom, 7-atom, and 19-atom sub-nanometer binary alloy/intermetallic transition metal nanoparticle catalysts on graphene (TMNP-MDG). Our results show several important and interesting features: (1) that the combination of geometric and electronic effects makes development of simple linear mixing rules for size/composition difficult; (2) that the transition from 4- to 7- to 19-atom TMNP on MDG has pronounced effects on ORR activity for all compositions; (3) that the use of B and N as dopants to modulate the graphene-TMNP electronic structure interaction can cause shifts in the oxygen adsorption energy of 0.5 eV or more; (4) that it might be possible to make specific doped-graphene-Ni_xCu_y TMNP systems which fall close to the Volcano Peak for ORR. Our results point to systems which should be investigated experimentally and may improve the viability of future fuel cell or other ORR applications, and provide new paths for future investigations of more detail for TMNP-MDG screening.

Adsorption Energy Shifts for Oxygen and Hydroxyl on 4-atom Metal-Decorated Graphene Catalysts Via Solvation, pH, and Substrate Dopants: Effects on ORR Activity

Recent literature results have highlighted the role of small transition metal and intermetallic nanoparticles supported on graphene as catalysts for many key applications in energy and commodity chemicals industries. Specifically, metal nanoparticle catalysts down to sizes of 4 and even 1 (single atom catalysts) on graphene have been studied for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR). A recent study showed that 4-atom transition metal intermetallic nanoparticles (NP) on graphene (metal-decorated graphene (MDG)) even generate a predictive Volcano Plot for ORR activity. Initial results from that study were not completely explained, and an expanded analysis and discussion built from that work is presented in this manuscript. Specifically, in this new work, the original Volcano Plot for 4-atom MDG NP catalysts for the ORR is analyzed for its counter-intuitive thermodynamic inversion between the rate limiting steps of O* hydrogenation and OH* hydrogenation. The Volcano Plot is then further studied for dependence on solvent correction energy, system pH, and with an initial probe on the sensitivity of descriptor values on doping of the graphene support via B and N atoms. Recommendations for optimum 4-atom MDG NP catalyst operation for the ORR are provided, and directions for future work and study are provided.