1
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Martini A, Hursán D, Timoshenko J, Rüscher M, Haase F, Rettenmaier C, Ortega E, Etxebarria A, Roldan Cuenya B. Tracking the Evolution of Single-Atom Catalysts for the CO 2 Electrocatalytic Reduction Using Operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Machine Learning. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:17351-17366. [PMID: 37524049 PMCID: PMC10416299 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c04826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Transition metal-nitrogen-doped carbons (TMNCs) are a promising class of catalysts for the CO2 electrochemical reduction reaction. In particular, high CO2-to-CO conversion activities and selectivities were demonstrated for Ni-based TMNCs. Nonetheless, open questions remain about the nature, stability, and evolution of the Ni active sites during the reaction. In this work, we address this issue by combining operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy with advanced data analysis. In particular, we show that the combination of unsupervised and supervised machine learning approaches is able to decipher the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) of the TMNCs, disentangling the contributions of different metal sites coexisting in the working TMNC catalyst. Moreover, quantitative structural information about the local environment of active species, including their interaction with adsorbates, has been obtained, shedding light on the complex dynamic mechanism of the CO2 electroreduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Martini
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Janis Timoshenko
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina Rüscher
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Haase
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Clara Rettenmaier
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Eduardo Ortega
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ane Etxebarria
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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2
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Tavani F, Busato M, Braglia L, Mauri S, Torelli P, D’Angelo P. Caught while Dissolving: Revealing the Interfacial Solvation of the Mg 2+ Ions on the MgO Surface. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:38370-38378. [PMID: 35968677 PMCID: PMC9412945 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c10005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Interfaces between water and materials are ubiquitous and are crucial in materials sciences and in biology, where investigating the interaction of water with the surface under ambient conditions is key to shedding light on the main processes occurring at the interface. Magnesium oxide is a popular model system to study the metal oxide-water interface, where, for sufficient water loadings, theoretical models have suggested that reconstructed surfaces involving hydrated Mg2+ metal ions may be energetically favored. In this work, by combining experimental and theoretical surface-selective ambient pressure X-ray absorption spectroscopy with multivariate curve resolution and molecular dynamics, we evidence in real time the occurrence of Mg2+ solvation at the interphase between MgO and solvating media such as water and methanol (MeOH). Further, we show that the Mg2+ surface ions undergo a reversible solvation process, we prove the dissolution/redeposition of the Mg2+ ions belonging to the MgO surface, and we demonstrate the formation of octahedral [Mg(H2O)6]2+ and [Mg(MeOH)6]2+ intermediate solvated species. The unique surface, electronic, and structural sensitivity of the developed technique may be beneficial to access often elusive properties of low-Z metal ion intermediates involved in interfacial processes of chemical and biological interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tavani
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università di Roma “La
Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Busato
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università di Roma “La
Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Luca Braglia
- CNR
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali, TASC, I-34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Mauri
- CNR
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali, TASC, I-34149 Trieste, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Via A. Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Piero Torelli
- CNR
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali, TASC, I-34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Paola D’Angelo
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università di Roma “La
Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
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3
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Frateloreto F, Tavani F, Di Berto Mancini M, Del Giudice D, Capocasa G, Kieffer I, Lanzalunga O, Di Stefano S, D’Angelo P. Following a Silent Metal Ion: A Combined X-ray Absorption and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study of the Zn 2+ Cation Dissipative Translocation between Two Different Ligands. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:5522-5529. [PMID: 35695810 PMCID: PMC9234980 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The dissipative translocation of the Zn2+ ion between two prototypical coordination complexes has been investigated by combining X-ray absorption and 1H NMR spectroscopy. An integrated experimental and theoretical approach, based on state-of-the-art Multivariate Curve Resolution and DFT based theoretical analyses, is presented as a means to understand the concentration time evolution of all relevant Zn and organic species in the investigated processes, and accurately characterize the solution structures of the key metal coordination complexes. Specifically, we investigate the dissipative translocation of the Zn2+ cation from hexaaza-18-crown-6 to two terpyridine moieties and back again to hexaaza-18-crown-6 using 2-cyano-2-phenylpropanoic acid and its para-chloro derivative as fuels. Our interdisciplinary approach has been proven to be a valuable tool to shed light on reactive systems containing metal ions that are silent to other spectroscopic methods. These combined experimental approaches will enable future applications to chemical and biological systems in a predictive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Frateloreto
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Tavani
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marika Di Berto Mancini
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Del Giudice
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Capocasa
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabelle Kieffer
- Observatoire
des Sciences de l’Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Grenoble-Alpes, UMR
832 CNRS, Grenoble, Cedex 9 F-38041, France
- BM30/CRG-FAME, ESRF, Polygone scientifique, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Osvaldo Lanzalunga
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Stefano
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola D’Angelo
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università degli Studi
di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
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4
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Tavani F, Fracchia M, Tofoni A, Braglia L, Jouve A, Morandi S, Manzoli M, Torelli P, Ghigna P, D'Angelo P. Structural and mechanistic insights into low-temperature CO oxidation over a prototypical high entropy oxide by Cu L-edge operando soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:26575-26584. [PMID: 34812450 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03946f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
High entropy oxides (HEOs) are an emerging class of materials constituted by multicomponent systems that are receiving special interest as candidates for obtaining novel and desirable properties. In this study we present a detailed investigation of the relevant intermediates arising at the surface of the prototypical HEO Mg0.2Co0.2Ni0.2Cu0.2Zn0.2O during low-temperature CO oxidation. By combining Cu L2,3-edge operando soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (soft-XAS) with density functional theory simulations and in situ FT-IR spectroscopy, we propose that upon HEO exposure to CO at 235 °C reduced Cu(I) sites arise mostly coordinated to activated CO molecules and partly to bidentate carbonate species. When the HEO surface is then exposed to a stoichiometric mixture of CO + 1/2O2 at 250 °C, CO2 is produced while bidentate carbonate moieties remain interacting with the Cu(I) sites. We structurally characterize the carbonate and CO preferential adsorption geometries on the Cu(I) surface metal centers, and find that CO adopts a bent conformation that may energetically favor its subsequent oxidation. The unique surface, structural and electronic sensitivity of soft-XAS coupled with the developed data analysis work-flow and supported by FT-IR spectroscopy may be beneficial to characterize often elusive surface properties of systems of catalytic interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tavani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Martina Fracchia
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 16, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tofoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Luca Braglia
- CNR - Istituto Officina dei Materiali, TASC, I-34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Andrea Jouve
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy
| | - Sara Morandi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Maela Manzoli
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125, Torino, Italy
| | - Piero Torelli
- CNR - Istituto Officina dei Materiali, TASC, I-34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Ghigna
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 16, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Paola D'Angelo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
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5
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Del Giudice D, Tavani F, Di Berto Mancini M, Frateloreto F, Busato M, Oliveira De Souza D, Cenesi F, Lanzalunga O, Di Stefano S, D'Angelo P. Two Faces of the Same Coin: Coupling X-Ray Absorption and NMR Spectroscopies to Investigate the Exchange Reaction Between Prototypical Cu Coordination Complexes. Chemistry 2021; 28:e202103825. [PMID: 34850474 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The satisfactory rationalization of complex reactive pathways in solution chemistry may greatly benefit from the combined use of advanced experimental and theoretical complementary methods of analysis. In this work, we combine X-Ray Absorption and 1 H NMR spectroscopies with state-of-the-art Multivariate Curve Resolution and theoretical analyses to gain a comprehensive view on a prototypical reaction involving the variation of the oxidation state and local structure environment of a selected metal ion coordinated by organic ligands. Specifically, we investigate the 2-cyano-2-phenylpropanoic acid reduction of the octahedral complex established by the Cu2+ ion with terpyridine to the tetrahedral complex formed by Cu+ and neocuproine. Through our interdisciplinary approach we gain insights into the nature, concentration time evolution and structures of the key metal (XAS measurements) and organic (1 H NMR measurements) species under reaction. We believe our method may prove to be useful in the toolbox necessary to understand the mechanisms of reactive processes of interest in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Del Giudice
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Tavani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Marika Di Berto Mancini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Frateloreto
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Busato
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Oliveira De Souza
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in AREA Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - Flavia Cenesi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Osvaldo Lanzalunga
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Stefano
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola D'Angelo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
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6
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Tavani F, Capocasa G, Martini A, Sessa F, Di Stefano S, Lanzalunga O, D'Angelo P. Activation of C-H bonds by a nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complex: mechanistic evidence through a coupled EDXAS/UV-Vis multivariate analysis. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:1188-1196. [PMID: 33355324 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp04304d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The understanding of reactive processes involving organic substrates is crucial to chemical knowledge and requires multidisciplinary efforts for its advancement. Herein, we apply a combined multivariate, statistical and theoretical analysis of coupled time-resolved X-ray absorption (XAS)/UV-Vis data to obtain detailed mechanistic information for on the C-H bond activation of 9,10-dihydroanthracene (DHA) and diphenylmethane (Ph2CH2) by the nonheme FeIV-oxo complex [N4Py·FeIV(O)]2+ (N4Py = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine) in CH3CN at room temperature. Within this approach, we determine the number of key chemical species present in the reaction mixtures and derive spectral and concentration profiles for the reaction intermediates. From the quantitative analysis of the XAS spectra the transient intermediate species are structurally determined. As a result, it is suggested that, while DHA is oxidized by [N4Py·FeIV(O)]2+ with a hydrogen atom transfer-electron transfer (HAT-ET) mechanism, Ph2CH2 is oxidized by the nonheme iron-oxo complex through a HAT-radical dissociation pathway. In the latter process, we prove that the intermediate FeIII complex [N4Py·FeIII(OH)]2+ is not able to oxidize the diphenylmethyl radical and we provide its structural characterization in solution. The employed combined experimental and theoretical strategy is promising for the spectroscopic characterization of transient intermediates as well as for the mechanistic investigation of redox chemical transformations on the second to millisecond time scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tavani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Capocasa
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Andrea Martini
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy and The Smart Materials Research Institute, Southern Federal University, 344090 Sladkova 178/24 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Stefano Di Stefano
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Osvaldo Lanzalunga
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Paola D'Angelo
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
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7
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Tavani F, Capocasa G, Martini A, Sessa F, Di Stefano S, Lanzalunga O, D'Angelo P. Direct structural and mechanistic insights into fast bimolecular chemical reactions in solution through a coupled XAS/UV–Vis multivariate statistical analysis. Dalton Trans 2021; 50:131-142. [DOI: 10.1039/d0dt03083j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A combined multivariate and theoretical analysis of coupled XAS/UV–Vis data was proven to be an innovative method to obtain direct structural and mechanistic evidence for bimolecular reactions in solution involving organic substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tavani
- Dipartimento di Chimica
- Università di Roma “La Sapienza”
- 00185 Roma
- Italy
| | - Giorgio Capocasa
- Dipartimento di Chimica
- Università di Roma “La Sapienza”
- 00185 Roma
- Italy
| | - Andrea Martini
- Dipartimento di Chimica
- Università degli Studi di Torino
- 10125 Torino
- Italy
- The Smart Materials Research Institute
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Dipartimento di Chimica
- Università di Roma “La Sapienza”
- 00185 Roma
- Italy
| | | | | | - Paola D'Angelo
- Dipartimento di Chimica
- Università di Roma “La Sapienza”
- 00185 Roma
- Italy
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Tavani F, Fracchia M, Pianta N, Ghigna P, Quartarone E, D’Angelo P. Multivariate curve resolution analysis of operando XAS data for the investigation of the lithiation mechanisms in high entropy oxides. Chem Phys Lett 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2020.137968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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9
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Spectral Decomposition of X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Datasets: Methods and Applications. CRYSTALS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst10080664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) today represents a widespread and powerful technique, able to monitor complex systems under in situ and operando conditions, while external variables, such us sampling time, sample temperature or even beam position over the analysed sample, are varied. X-ray absorption spectroscopy is an element-selective but bulk-averaging technique. Each measured XAS spectrum can be seen as an average signal arising from all the absorber-containing species/configurations present in the sample under study. The acquired XAS data are thus represented by a spectroscopic mixture composed of superimposed spectral profiles associated to well-defined components, characterised by concentration values evolving in the course of the experiment. The decomposition of an experimental XAS dataset in a set of pure spectral and concentration values is a typical example of an inverse problem and it goes, usually, under the name of multivariate curve resolution (MCR). In the present work, we present an overview on the major techniques developed to realize the MCR decomposition together with a selection of related results, with an emphasis on applications in catalysis. Therein, we will highlight the great potential of these methods which are imposing as an essential tool for quantitative analysis of large XAS datasets as well as the directions for further development in synergy with the continuous instrumental progresses at synchrotron sources.
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