DFT studies of methanol decomposition on Ni(100) surface: Compared with Ni(111) surface

Nickel foam supported Mn-doped NiFe-LDH nanosheet arrays as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation and hydrogen evolution

Electrochemical upgrading methanol into value-added formate at the anode in alkaline media enables the boosting production of hydrogen fuel at the cathode with saved energy. To achieve such a cost-effective and efficient electrocatalytic process, herein this work presents a Mn-doped nickel iron layered double hydroxides supported on nickel foam, derived from a simple hydrothermal synthesis. This developed electrocatalyst could act as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for methanol-to-formate with a high faradaic efficiency of nearly 100 %, and for hydrogen evolution reaction, at an external potential of 1.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Additionally, a current density of 131.1 mA cm-2 with a decay of merely 12.2 % over 120 h continuous long-term testing was generated in co-electrocatalysis of water/methanol solution. Further density functional theoretical calculations were used to unravel the methanol-to-formate reaction mechanism arising from the doping of Fe and/or Mn. This work offers a good example of co-electrocatalysis to produce formate and green hydrogen fuel using a bifunctional electrocatalyst.

Self-hydrating of a ceria-based catalyst enables efficient operation of solid oxide fuel cells on liquid fuels

The commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that run on liquid hydrocarbon fuels is hindered by the poor coking tolerance of the state-of-the-art anode. Among the strategies developed, modulating the reforming reaction site's local steam/carbon ratios to enhance the coking tolerance is efficient but challenging. Here we report our rational design of a ceria-based catalyst (with a nominal composition of Ce0.95Ru0.05O2-δ, CR5O) that demonstrates remarkable tolerance to coking while maintaining excellent activity for direct utilization of liquid fuels in SOFCs. Under operating conditions, the catalyst is transformed to a partially reduced oxide frame covered with Ru nanoparticles (Ru/Ce0.95Ru0.05-xO2-δ, Ru/CR5-xO), as confirmed by experimental analyses. The Ru/CR5-xO demonstrates excellent self-hydration capability to remove the coke. When applied to the Ni-yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) anode of an SOFC with liquid fuels, the catalyst enables excellent performance, achieving a peak power density of 1.010 W cm-2 without coking for ∼200 h operation (on methanol) at 750 °C. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations reveal that the high activity and coking tolerance of the Ru/CR5-xO catalyst-coated Ni-YSZ anode is attributed to the reduced energy barrier for the rate-limiting step and the formation of a COH intermediate for rapid carbon removal.

Methanol decomposition on Ni(111) and O/Ni(111)

Methanol decomposition on Ni(111) surfaces has been studied in the presence and absence of oxygen using temperature-programmed desorption and temperature-dependent sum frequency generation spectroscopy. Under both conditions the C-H and O-H bonds break, forming carbon monoxide and atomic hydrogen on the surface. No C-O bond scission was observed, limiting the number of reaction pathways. The O-H bonds break first (>150 K), forming surface methoxy, followed by C-H bond breakage (>250 K). All atomic hydrogen desorbs from the surface as H₂ through H+H recombinative desorption. H₂ desorbs at a higher temperature in the presence of oxygen (>300 K) than the absence of oxygen (>250 K) as the oxygen on the surface stabilizes the H atoms, forming surface hydroxide (OH). The surface oxygen also appears to stabilize the O-H and C-H bonds, leading to slightly higher dissociation temperatures. The CO molecules occupy both the bridge sites and the top sites of the Ni atoms as surface H appears to force the CO molecules to the top sites. There is a slight blueshift in the C-O bond vibration for both the O covered and O free surfaces due to CO being more mobile. On the O free surface, the C-O peak width broadens as low-frequency modes are activated. Finally, CO desorbs between 350 and 400 K.

Nickel-Decorated Mesoporous Iron-Cerium Mixed Oxides: Microstructure and Catalytic Activity in Methanol Decomposition

Nickel-decorated mesoporous cerium-iron oxide composites were synthesized by a combination of incipient wetness impregnation and template-assisted hydrothermal techniques. The effects of the Fe/Ce ratio and the calcination temperature of cerium-iron oxides on the phase composition, texture, structure, and redox properties of the composites were studied by a combination of N₂ physisorption, XRD, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, SEM, Mössbauer, Raman, XPS, ultraviolet-visible and FTIR spectroscopies, H₂-temperature-programmed reduction, and total oxidation of ethyl acetate as a catalytic test. The combined physicochemical characterization and in situ FTIR investigation of methanol decomposition was used for a proper understanding of the microstructure of the Ni/FeCe oxide composites and the mechanism of the reaction occurring on them. The complex role of the FeCe support in the stabilization of highly dispersed Ni particles, the generation of surface intermediates, and the impact of the support phase transformation under the reaction medium are discussed.

Catalytic Effect of Hydrogen Bond on Oxhydryl Dehydrogenation in Methanol Steam Reforming on Ni(111)

Dehydrogenation of H₃COH and H₂O are key steps of methanol steam reforming on transition metal surfaces. Oxhydryl dehydrogenation reactions of H_xCOH (x = 0-3) and OH on Ni (111) were investigated by DFT calculations with the OptB88-vdW functional. The transition states were searched by the climbing image nudged elastic band method and the dimer method. The activation energies for the dehydrogenation of individual H_xCOH* are 68 to 91 kJ/mol, and reduced to 12-17 kJ/mol by neighboring OH*. Bader charge analysis showed the catalysis role of OH* can be attributed to the effect of hydrogen bond (H-bond) in maintaining the charge of oxhydryl H in the reaction path. The mechanism of H-bond catalysis was further demonstrated by the study of OH* and N* assisted dehydrogenation of OH*. Due to the universality of H-bond, the H-bond catalysis shown here, is of broad implication for studies of reaction kinetics.

Coverage dependent structure and energy of water dissociative adsorption on clean and O-pre-covered Ni (100) and Ni(110)

H₂O dissociative adsorption on clean and O pre-covered Ni(100) and Ni(110) surfaces has been computed systematically on the basis of periodic density functional theory and ab initio atomistic thermodynamics.

Exploring the methanol decomposition mechanism on the Pt3Ni(100) surface: a periodic density functional theory study

The detailed mechanism of the methanol decomposition reaction on the Pt₃Ni(100) surface is studied based on self-consistent periodic DFT calculations.

Methanol decomposition reactions over a boron-doped graphene supported Ru–Pt catalyst

In-depth investigations of adsorption and decomposition of methanol over boron-doped graphene supported Ru–Pt catalyst are presented using periodic density functional theory calculations. Methanol decomposition on such catalyst proceeds through formation of methoxide (CH₃O) and via stepwise dehydrogenation of formaldehyde (CH₂O), formyl (CHO), and carbon monoxide (CO).

Effect of methanol in controlling defunctionalization of the propyl side chain of phenolics from catalytic upstream biorefining

In recent years, lignin valorization has gained upward momentum owing to advances in both plant bioengineering and catalytic processing of lignin. In this new horizon, catalysis is now applied to the ‘pulping process’ itself, creating efficient methods for lignocellulose fractionation or deconstruction (here referred to as Catalytic Upstream Biorefining or ‘CUB’). These processes render, together with delignified pulps, lignin streams of low molecular weight (M_w) and low molecular diversity. Recently, we introduced a CUB process based on Early-stage Catalytic Conversion of Lignin (ECCL) through H-transfer reactions catalyzed by RANEY® Ni. This approach renders a lignin stream obtained as a viscous oil, comprising up to 60 wt% monophenolic compounds (M_w < 250 Da). The remaining oil fraction (40 wt%) is mainly composed of lignin oligomers, and as minor products, holocellulose-derived polyols and lignin-derived species of high M_w (0.25–2 kDa). Simultaneously, the process yields a holocellulose pulp with a low content of residual lignin (<5 wt%). Despite the efficiency of aqueous solutions of 2-propanol as a solvent for lignin fragments and an H-donor, there is scant information regarding the CUB process carried out in the presence of primary alcohols, which often inhibit the catalytic activity of RANEY® Ni, as revealed in model compound studies performed at low temperature. Considering the composition of the lignin oils obtained from CUB based on ECCL, the processes commonly render ortho-(di)methoxy-4-propylphenol derivatives with a varied degree of defunctionalization of the propyl side chain. In this contribution, we present the role of the alcohol solvent (methanol or 2-propanol) and Ni catalyst (Ni/C or RANEY® Ni) in control over selectivity of phenolic products. The current results indicate that solvent effects on the catalytic processes could hold the key for improving control over the degree of functionalization of the propyl side-chain in the lignin oil obtained from CUB, offering new avenues for lignin valorization at the extraction step.

Methanol oxidation on Ru(0001) for direct methanol fuel cells: analysis of the competitive reaction mechanism

Competitive oxidation of CH₃OH to CH₂O occur via CH₃OH → CH₃O → CH₂O vs. CH₃OH → CH₂OH → CH₂O, further to COOH by the OH group via CH₂O → CHO → CO + OH → COOH vs. CH₂O + OH → CH₂OOH → CHOOH → COOH, and finally oxidation to CO₂ on Ru(0001).

Insight into both coverage and surface structure dependent CO adsorption and activation on different Ni surfaces from DFT and atomistic thermodynamics

CO adsorption and activation from low to high coverage on Ni catalyst.

Insight into the mechanism of methane synthesis from syngas on a Ni(111) surface: a theoretical study

Solid lines denote the main pathways of CH₄ formation by syngas obtained in this work. E_a denotes the activation barrier for the corresponding step. ΔH represents the relevant reaction energy (unit: eV).

Direct vs. indirect pathway for nitrobenzene reduction reaction on a Ni catalyst surface: a density functional study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to understand and address the previous experimental results that showed the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline prefers direct over indirect reaction pathways irrespective of the catalyst surface. Nitrobenzene to aniline conversion occurs via the hydroxyl amine intermediate (direct pathway) or via the azoxybenzene intermediate (indirect pathway). Through our computational study we calculated the spin polarized and dispersion corrected reaction energies and activation barriers corresponding to various reaction pathways for the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline over a Ni catalyst surface. The adsorption behaviour of the substrate, nitrobenzene, on the catalyst surface was also considered and the energetically most preferable structural orientation was elucidated. Our study indicates that the parallel adsorption behaviour of the molecules over a catalyst surface is preferable over vertical adsorption behaviour. Based on the reaction energies and activation barrier of the various elementary steps involved in direct or indirect reaction pathways, we find that the direct reduction pathway of nitrobenzene over the Ni(111) catalyst surface is more favourable than the indirect reaction pathway.

Solvent effects on the hydrogenolysis of diphenyl ether with Raney nickel and their implications for the conversion of lignin

The conversion of lignin, the most recalcitrant of the biopolymers, is necessary for a carbon-efficient utilization of lignocellulosic materials. In this context, hydrogenolysis of lignin is a process receiving increasing attention. In this report, the solvent effects on the hydrogenolysis of diphenyl ether and lignin with Raney Ni are addressed. The Lewis basicity of the solvent very much affects the catalytic activity, so Raney Ni in nonbasic solvents is an extremely active catalyst for hydrogenolysis and hydrogenation. In basic solvents, however, Raney Ni is a less active, but much more selective catalyst for hydrogenolysis while preserving the aromatic products. With regard to the reactions with lignin, assessing the complexity of the product mixtures by two-dimensional GC×GC-MS revealed solvent effects on the product distribution. Reaction in methylcyclohexane resulted in cyclic alcohols and cyclic alkanes, whereas reaction in 2-propanol led to cyclic alcohols, cyclic ketones, and unsaturated products. The hydrogenolysis of lignin in methanol, however, produced mostly phenols. Overall, these results demonstrate that the solvent plays a key role in directing the selectivity and, thus, it must be taken into consideration in the design of catalytic systems for conversion of lignin by hydrogenolysis of C-O ether bonds.

Unravelling the mechanism of glycerol hydrogenolysis over rhodium catalyst through combined experimental-theoretical investigations

We report herein a detailed and accurate study of the mechanism of rhodium-catalysed conversion of glycerol into 1,2-propanediol and lactic acid. The first step of the reaction is particularly debated, as it can be either dehydration or dehydrogenation. It is expected that these elementary reactions can be influenced by pH variations and by the nature of the gas phase. These parameters were consequently investigated experimentally. On the other hand, there was a lack of knowledge about the behaviour of glycerol at the surface of the metallic catalyst. A theoretical approach on a model Rh(111) surface was thus implemented in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) to describe the above-mentioned elementary reactions and to calculate the corresponding transition states. The combination of experiment and theory shows that the dehydrogenation into glyceraldehyde is the first step for the glycerol transformation on the Rh/C catalyst in basic media under He or H(2) atmosphere.

Symmetry breaking in confined fluids

The recent progress in the theoretical investigation of the symmetry breaking (the existence of a stable state of a system, in which the symmetry is lower than the symmetry of the system itself) for classical and quantum fluids is reviewed. The emphasis is on the conditions which cause symmetry breaking in the density distribution for one component fluids and binary mixtures confined in a closed nanoslit between identical solid walls. The existing studies have revealed that two kinds of symmetry breaking can occur in such systems. First, a one-dimensional symmetry breaking occurs only in the direction normal to the walls as a fluid density profile asymmetric with respect of the middle of the slit and uniform in any direction parallel to the walls. Second, a two-dimensional symmetry breaking occurs in the fluid density distribution which is nonuniform in one of the directions parallel to the walls and asymmetrical in the direction normal to the walls. It manifests through liquid bumps and bridges in the fluid density distribution. For one component fluids, conditions of existence of symmetry breaking are provided in terms of the average fluid density, strength of fluid-solid interactions, distance at which the solid wall generates a hard core repulsion, and temperature. In the case of binary mixtures, the occurrence of symmetry breaking also depends on the composition of the confined mixtures.