1
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Lian W, Huang Y, Yin Q, Guo Z, Xu Y, Miao T. Syntheses of heterometallic organic frameworks catalysts via multicomponent postmodification: For improving CO 2 photoreduction efficiency. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 675:94-103. [PMID: 38968640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.165] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
To enhance the economic viability of photocatalytic materials for carbon capture and conversion, the challenge of employing expensive photosensitizer must be overcome. This study aims to improve the visible light utilization with zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) by employing a multi-component post-synthetic modification (PSM) strategy. An economical photosensitiser and copper ions are introduced into MOF 808 to enhance its photoreduction properties. Notably, the PSM of MOF 808 shows the highest CO yield up to 236.5 μmol g-1 h-1 with aHCOOH production of 993.6 μmol g-1 h-1 under non-noble metal, and its mechanistic insight for CO2 reaction is discussed in detail. The research results have important reference value for the potential application of photocatalytic metal-organic frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanqi Lian
- Key Laboratory of Green and Precise Synthetic Chemistry and Applications, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Green and Precise Synthetic Chemistry and Applications, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Yin
- Key Laboratory of Green and Precise Synthetic Chemistry and Applications, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Zhicheng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Green and Precise Synthetic Chemistry and Applications, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Green and Precise Synthetic Chemistry and Applications, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China; State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Tifang Miao
- Key Laboratory of Green and Precise Synthetic Chemistry and Applications, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Material Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China.
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2
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Qin X, Li J, Jiang TW, Ma XY, Jiang K, Yang B, Chen S, Cai WB. Disentangling heterogeneous thermocatalytic formic acid dehydrogenation from an electrochemical perspective. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7509. [PMID: 39209883 PMCID: PMC11362458 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51926-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous thermocatalysis of formic acid dehydrogenation by metals in solution is of great importance for chemical storage and production of hydrogen. Insightful understanding of the complicated formic acid dehydrogenation kinetics at the metal-solution interface is challenging and yet essential for the design of efficient heterogeneous formic acid dehydrogenation systems. In this work, formic acid dehydrogenation kinetics is initially studied from a perspective of electrochemistry by decoupling this reaction on Pd catalyst into two short-circuit half reactions, formic acid oxidation reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction and manipulating the electrical double layer impact from the solution side. The pH-dependences of formic acid dehydrogenation kinetics and the associated cation effect are attributed to the induced change of electric double layer structure and potential by means of electrochemical measurements involving kinetic isotope effect, in situ infrared spectroscopy as well as grand canonical quantum mechanics calculations. This work showcases how kinetic puzzles on some important heterogeneous catalytic reactions can be tackled by electrochemical theories and methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianxian Qin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiejie Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian-Wen Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xian-Yin Ma
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Yang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shengli Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen-Bin Cai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Sokolov M, Doblhoff-Dier K, Exner KS. Best practices of modeling complex materials in electrocatalysis, exemplified by oxygen evolution reaction on pentlandites. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:22359-22370. [PMID: 39158931 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01792g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Pentlandites are natural ores with structural properties comparable to that of [FeNi] hydrogenases. While this class of transition-metal sulfide materials - (Fe,Ni)9S8 - with a variable Fe : Ni ratio has been proven to be an active electrode material for the hydrogen evolution reaction, it is also discussed as electrocatalyst for the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER), corresponding to the bottleneck of anion exchange membrane electrolyzers for green hydrogen production. Despite the experimental evidence for the use of (Fe,Ni)9S8 as an OER catalyst, a detailed investigation of the elementary reaction steps, including consideration of adsorbate coverages and limiting steps under anodic polarizing conditions, is still missing. We address this gap in the present manuscript by gaining atomistic insights into the OER on an Fe4.5Ni4.5S8(111) surface through density functional theory calculations combined with a descriptor-based analysis. We use this system to introduce best practices for modeling this rather complex material by pointing out hidden pitfalls that can arise when using the popular computational hydrogen electrode approach to describe electrocatalytic processes at the electrified solid/liquid interface for energy conversion and storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim Sokolov
- Faculty of Chemistry, Theoretical Inorganic Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Katharina Doblhoff-Dier
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, Leiden 2300, RA, The Netherlands
| | - Kai S Exner
- Faculty of Chemistry, Theoretical Inorganic Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, 44801 Bochum, Germany
- Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE) Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
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4
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Zhu X, Huang J, Eikerling M. Hierarchical Modeling of the Local Reaction Environment in Electrocatalysis. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:2080-2092. [PMID: 39031075 PMCID: PMC11308366 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusElectrocatalytic reactions, such as oxygen reduction/evolution reactions and CO2 reduction reaction that are pivotal for the energy transition, are multistep processes that occur in a nanoscale electric double layer (EDL) at a solid-liquid interface. Conventional analyses based on the Sabatier principle, using binding energies or effective electronic structure properties such as the d-band center as descriptors, are able to grasp overall trends in catalytic activity in specific groups of catalysts. However, thermodynamic approaches often fail to account for electrolyte effects that arise in the EDL, including pH, cation, and anion effects. These effects exert strong impacts on electrocatalytic reactions. There is growing consensus that the local reaction environment (LRE) prevailing in the EDL is the key to deciphering these complex and hitherto perplexing electrolyte effects. Increasing attention is thus paid to designing electrolyte properties, positioning the LRE at center stage. To this end, unraveling the LRE is becoming essential for designing electrocatalysts with specifically tailored properties, which could enable much needed breakthroughs in electrochemical energy science.Theory and modeling are getting more and more important and powerful in addressing this multifaceted problem that involves physical phenomena at different scales and interacting in a multidimensional parametric space. Theoretical models developed for this purpose should treat intrinsic multistep kinetics of electrocatalytic reactions, EDL effects from subnm scale to the scale of 10 nm, and mass transport phenomena bridging scales from <0.1 to 100 μm. Given the diverse physical phenomena and scales involved, it is evident that the challenge at hand surpasses the capabilities of any single theoretical or computational approach.In this Account, we present a hierarchical theoretical framework to address the above challenge. It seamlessly integrates several modules: (i) microkinetic modeling that accounts for various reaction pathways; (ii) an LRE model that describes the interfacial region extending from the nanometric EDL continuously to the solution bulk; (iii) first-principles calculations that provide parameters, e.g., adsorption energies, activation barriers and EDL parameters. The microkinetic model considers all elementary steps without designating an a priori rate-determining step. The kinetics of these elementary steps are expressed in terms of local concentrations, potential and electric field that are codetermined by EDL charging and mass transport in the LRE model. Vital insights on electrode kinetic phenomena, i.e., potential-dependent Tafel slopes, cation effects, and pH effects, obtained from this hierarchical framework are then reviewed. Finally, an outlook on further improvement of the model framework is presented, in view of recent developments in first-principles based simulation of electrocatalysis, observations of dynamic reconstruction of catalysts, and machine-learning assisted computational simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwei Zhu
- Theory
and Computation of Energy Materials (IEK-13), Institute of Energy
and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Chair
of Theory and Computation of Energy Materials, Faculty of Georesources
and Materials Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jun Huang
- Theory
and Computation of Energy Materials (IEK-13), Institute of Energy
and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Theory
of Electrocatalytic Interfaces, Faculty of Georesources and Materials
Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Michael Eikerling
- Theory
and Computation of Energy Materials (IEK-13), Institute of Energy
and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Chair
of Theory and Computation of Energy Materials, Faculty of Georesources
and Materials Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
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5
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Hutchison P, Smith LE, Rooney CL, Wang H, Hammes-Schiffer S. Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Mechanisms for CO 2 Reduction to Methanol Catalyzed by Surface-Immobilized Cobalt Phthalocyanine. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:20230-20240. [PMID: 38984971 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Immobilized cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) is a highly promising architecture for the six-proton, six-electron reduction of CO2 to methanol. This electroreduction process relies on proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions that can occur by sequential or concerted mechanisms. Immobilization on a conductive support such as carbon nanotubes or graphitic flakes can fundamentally alter the PCET mechanisms. We use density functional theory (DFT) calculations of CoPc adsorbed on an explicit graphitic surface model to investigate intermediates in the electroreduction of CO2 to methanol. Our calculations show that the alignment of the CoPc and graphitic electronic states influences the reductive chemistry. These calculations also distinguish between charging the graphitic surface and reducing the CoPc and adsorbed intermediates as electrons are added to the system. This analysis allows us to identify the chemical transformations that are likely to be concerted PCET, defined for these systems as the mechanism in which protonation of a CO2 reduction intermediate is accompanied by electron abstraction from the graphitic surface to the adsorbate without thermodynamically stable intermediates. This work establishes a mechanistic pathway for methanol production that is consistent with experimental observations and provides fundamental insight into how immobilization of the CoPc impacts its CO2 reduction chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillips Hutchison
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Logan E Smith
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Conor L Rooney
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
- Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | - Hailiang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
- Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | - Sharon Hammes-Schiffer
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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6
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Zhang YC, Zhang XL, Wu ZZ, Niu ZZ, Chi LP, Gao FY, Yang PP, Wang YH, Yu PC, Duanmu JW, Sun SP, Gao MR. Facet-switching of rate-determining step on copper in CO 2-to-ethylene electroreduction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400546121. [PMID: 38857407 PMCID: PMC11194607 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400546121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) by renewable electricity to produce multicarbon chemicals, such as ethylene (C2H4), continues to be a challenge because of insufficient Faradaic efficiency, low production rates, and complex mechanistic pathways. Here, we report that the rate-determining steps (RDS) on common copper (Cu) surfaces diverge in CO2 electroreduction, leading to distinct catalytic performances. Through a combination of experimental and computational studies, we reveal that C─C bond-making is the RDS on Cu(100), whereas the protonation of *CO with adsorbed water becomes rate-limiting on Cu(111) with a higher energy barrier. On an oxide-derived Cu(100)-dominant Cu catalyst, we reach a high C2H4 Faradaic efficiency of 72%, partial current density of 359 mA cm-2, and long-term stability exceeding 100 h at 500 mA cm-2, greatly outperforming its Cu(111)-rich counterpart. We further demonstrate constant C2H4 selectivity of >60% over 70 h in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer with a full-cell energy efficiency of 23.4%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Cai Zhang
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhang
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Zhi-Zheng Wu
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Zhuang-Zhuang Niu
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Li-Ping Chi
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Fei-Yue Gao
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Peng-Peng Yang
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Ye-Hua Wang
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Yu
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Jing-Wen Duanmu
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Shu-Ping Sun
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Min-Rui Gao
- Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
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7
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Wang X, Ju W, Liang L, Riyaz M, Bagger A, Filippi M, Rossmeisl J, Strasser P. Electrochemical CO 2 Activation and Valorization on Metallic Copper and Carbon-Embedded N-Coordinated Single Metal MNC Catalysts. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401821. [PMID: 38467562 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical reductive valorization of CO2, referred to as the CO2RR, is an emerging approach for the conversion of CO2-containing feeds into valuable carbonaceous fuels and chemicals, with potential contributions to carbon capture and use (CCU) for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Copper surfaces and graphene-embedded, N-coordinated single metal atom (MNC) catalysts exhibit distinctive reactivity, attracting attention as efficient electrocatalysts for CO2RR. This review offers a comparative analysis of CO2RR on copper surfaces and MNC catalysts, highlighting their unique characteristics in terms of CO2 activation, C1/C2(+) product formation, and the competing hydrogen evolution pathway. The assessment underscores the significance of understanding structure-activity relationships to optimize catalyst design for efficient and selective CO2RR. Examining detailed reaction mechanisms and structure-selectivity patterns, the analysis explores recent insights into changes in the chemical catalyst states, atomic motif rearrangements, and fractal agglomeration, providing essential kinetic information from advanced in/ex situ microscopy/spectroscopy techniques. At the end, this review addresses future challenges and solutions related to today's disconnect between our current molecular understanding of structure-activity-selectivity relations in CO2RR and the relevant factors controlling the performance of CO2 electrolyzers over longer times, with larger electrode sizes, and at higher current densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingli Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. June 124, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wen Ju
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. June 124, 10623, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Electrochemistry and Catalysis, Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, 18059, Rostock
| | - Liang Liang
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. June 124, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mohd Riyaz
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alexander Bagger
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Michael Filippi
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. June 124, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Rossmeisl
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Strasser
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. June 124, 10623, Berlin, Germany
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8
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Kastlunger G, Vijay S, Chen X, Sharma S, Peterson A. On the Thermodynamic Equivalence of Grand Canonical, Infinite-Size, and Capacitor-Based Models in First-Principle Electrochemistry. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300950. [PMID: 38511569 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
First principles-based computational and theoretical methods are constantly evolving trying to overcome the many obstacles towards a comprehensive understanding of electrochemical processes on an atomistic level. One of the major challenges has been the determination of reaction energetics under a constant potential. Here, a theoretical framework was proposed applying standard electronic structure methods and extrapolating to the infinite-cell size limit where reactions do not alter the potential. Today, electronically grand canonical modifications to electronic structure methods, holding the potential constant by varying the number of electrons in a finite simulation cell, become increasingly popular. In this perspective, we show that these two schemes are thermodynamically equivalent. Further, we link these methods to capacitive models of the interface, in the limit that the capacitance of the charging components (whether continuum or atomistic) are equal and invariant along the reaction pathway. We benchmark the three approaches with an example of alkali cation adsorption on Pt(111) showing that all three approaches converge in the cases of Li, Na and K. For Cs, however, strong deviation from the ideal conditions leads to a spread in the respective results. We discuss the latter by highlighting the cases of broken equivalence and assumptions among the approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Kastlunger
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sudarshan Vijay
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Xi Chen
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Hope Street, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Shubham Sharma
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Hope Street, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Andrew Peterson
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Hope Street, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
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9
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Yu H, Govindarajan N, Weitzner SE, Serra-Maia RF, Akhade SA, Varley JB. Theoretical Investigation of the Adsorbate and Potential-Induced Stability of Cu Facets During Electrochemical CO 2 and CO Reduction. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300959. [PMID: 38409629 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The activity and product selectivity of electrocatalysts for reactions like the carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) are intimately dependent on the catalyst's structure and composition. While engineering catalytic surfaces can improve performance, discovering the key sets of rational design principles remains challenging due to limitations in modeling catalyst stability under operating conditions. Herein, we perform first-principles density functional calculations adopting implicit solvation methods with potential control to study the influence of adsorbates and applied potential on the stability of different facets of model Cu electrocatalysts. Using coverage dependencies extracted from microkinetic models, we describe an approach for calculating potential and adsorbate-dependent contributions to surface energies under reaction conditions, where Wulff constructions are used to understand the morphological evolution of Cu electrocatalysts under CO2RR conditions. We identify that CO*, a key reaction intermediate, exhibits higher kinetically and thermodynamically accessible coverages on (100) relative to (111) facets, which can translate into an increased relative stabilization of the (100) facet during CO2RR. Our results support the known tendency for increased (111) faceting of Cu nanoparticles under more reducing conditions and that the relative increase in (100) faceting observed under CO2RR conditions is likely attributed to differences in CO* coverage between these facets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Yu
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
- Laboratory for Energy Applications for the Future, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Nitish Govindarajan
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
- Laboratory for Energy Applications for the Future, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Stephen E Weitzner
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
- Laboratory for Energy Applications for the Future, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Rui F Serra-Maia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sneha A Akhade
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
- Laboratory for Energy Applications for the Future, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Joel B Varley
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
- Laboratory for Energy Applications for the Future, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
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10
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Wu W, Xu L, Lu Q, Sun J, Xu Z, Song C, Yu JC, Wang Y. Addressing the Carbonate Issue: Electrocatalysts for Acidic CO 2 Reduction Reaction. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2312894. [PMID: 38722084 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) powered by renewable energy provides a promising route to CO2 conversion and utilization. However, the widely used neutral/alkaline electrolyte consumes a large amount of CO2 to produce (bi)carbonate byproducts, leading to significant challenges at the device level, thereby impeding the further deployment of this reaction. Conducting CO2RR in acidic electrolytes offers a promising solution to address the "carbonate issue"; however, it presents inherent difficulties due to the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction, necessitating concerted efforts toward advanced catalyst and electrode designs to achieve high selectivity and activity. This review encompasses recent developments of acidic CO2RR, from mechanism elucidation to catalyst design and device engineering. This review begins by discussing the mechanistic understanding of the reaction pathway, laying the foundation for catalyst design in acidic CO2RR. Subsequently, an in-depth analysis of recent advancements in acidic CO2RR catalysts is provided, highlighting heterogeneous catalysts, surface immobilized molecular catalysts, and catalyst surface enhancement. Furthermore, the progress made in device-level applications is summarized, aiming to develop high-performance acidic CO2RR systems. Finally, the existing challenges and future directions in the design of acidic CO2RR catalysts are outlined, emphasizing the need for improved selectivity, activity, stability, and scalability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixing Wu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Liangpang Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Qian Lu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Jiping Sun
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Zhanyou Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Chunshan Song
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Jimmy C Yu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S. A. R., China
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11
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Baidoun R, Liu G, Kim D. Recent advances in the role of interfacial liquids in electrochemical reactions. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:5903-5925. [PMID: 38440946 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06092f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The interfacial liquid, situated in proximity to an electrode or catalyst, plays a vital role in determining the activity and selectivity of crucial electrochemical reactions, including hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution/reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction. Thus, there has been a growing interest in better understanding the behavior and the catalytic effect of its constituents. This minireview examines the impact of interfacial liquids on electrocatalysis, specifically the effects of water molecules and ionic species present at the interface. How the structure of interfacial water, distinct from the bulk, can affect charge transfer kinetics and transport of species is presented. Furthermore, how cations and anions (de)stabilize intermediates and transition states, compete for adsorption with reaction species, and act as local environment modifiers including pH and the surrounding solvent structure are described in detail. These effects can promote or inhibit reactions in various ways. This comprehensive exploration provides valuable insights for tailoring interfacial liquids to optimize electrochemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Baidoun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Gexu Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dohyung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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12
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Mortensen JJ, Larsen AH, Kuisma M, Ivanov AV, Taghizadeh A, Peterson A, Haldar A, Dohn AO, Schäfer C, Jónsson EÖ, Hermes ED, Nilsson FA, Kastlunger G, Levi G, Jónsson H, Häkkinen H, Fojt J, Kangsabanik J, Sødequist J, Lehtomäki J, Heske J, Enkovaara J, Winther KT, Dulak M, Melander MM, Ovesen M, Louhivuori M, Walter M, Gjerding M, Lopez-Acevedo O, Erhart P, Warmbier R, Würdemann R, Kaappa S, Latini S, Boland TM, Bligaard T, Skovhus T, Susi T, Maxson T, Rossi T, Chen X, Schmerwitz YLA, Schiøtz J, Olsen T, Jacobsen KW, Thygesen KS. GPAW: An open Python package for electronic structure calculations. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:092503. [PMID: 38450733 DOI: 10.1063/5.0182685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
We review the GPAW open-source Python package for electronic structure calculations. GPAW is based on the projector-augmented wave method and can solve the self-consistent density functional theory (DFT) equations using three different wave-function representations, namely real-space grids, plane waves, and numerical atomic orbitals. The three representations are complementary and mutually independent and can be connected by transformations via the real-space grid. This multi-basis feature renders GPAW highly versatile and unique among similar codes. By virtue of its modular structure, the GPAW code constitutes an ideal platform for the implementation of new features and methodologies. Moreover, it is well integrated with the Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE), providing a flexible and dynamic user interface. In addition to ground-state DFT calculations, GPAW supports many-body GW band structures, optical excitations from the Bethe-Salpeter Equation, variational calculations of excited states in molecules and solids via direct optimization, and real-time propagation of the Kohn-Sham equations within time-dependent DFT. A range of more advanced methods to describe magnetic excitations and non-collinear magnetism in solids are also now available. In addition, GPAW can calculate non-linear optical tensors of solids, charged crystal point defects, and much more. Recently, support for graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration has been achieved with minor modifications to the GPAW code thanks to the CuPy library. We end the review with an outlook, describing some future plans for GPAW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Jørgen Mortensen
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ask Hjorth Larsen
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mikael Kuisma
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aleksei V Ivanov
- Riverlane Ltd., St Andrews House, 59 St Andrews Street, Cambridge CB2 3BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Alireza Taghizadeh
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andrew Peterson
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Anubhab Haldar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Asmus Ougaard Dohn
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark and Science Institute and Faculty of Physical Sciences, VR-III, University of Iceland, Reykjavík 107, Iceland
| | - Christian Schäfer
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elvar Örn Jónsson
- Science Institute and Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland, VR-III, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Eric D Hermes
- Quantum-Si, 29 Business Park Drive, Branford, Connecticut 06405, USA
| | | | - Georg Kastlunger
- CatTheory, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gianluca Levi
- Science Institute and Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland, VR-III, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Hannes Jónsson
- Science Institute and Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Iceland, VR-III, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Hannu Häkkinen
- Departments of Physics and Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jakub Fojt
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jiban Kangsabanik
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Joachim Sødequist
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jouko Lehtomäki
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Julian Heske
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jussi Enkovaara
- CSC-IT Center for Science Ltd., P.O. Box 405, FI-02101 Espoo, Finland
| | - Kirsten Trøstrup Winther
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Marcin Dulak
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Marko M Melander
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Martin Ovesen
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Martti Louhivuori
- CSC-IT Center for Science Ltd., P.O. Box 405, FI-02101 Espoo, Finland
| | - Michael Walter
- FIT Freiburg Centre for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Morten Gjerding
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Olga Lopez-Acevedo
- Biophysics of Tropical Diseases, Max Planck Tandem Group, University of Antioquia UdeA, 050010 Medellin, Colombia
| | - Paul Erhart
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Robert Warmbier
- School of Physics and Mandelstam Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, 2001 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rolf Würdemann
- Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum, Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 21, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sami Kaappa
- Computational Physics Laboratory, Tampere University, P.O. Box 692, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Simone Latini
- Nanomade, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tara Maria Boland
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas Bligaard
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thorbjørn Skovhus
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Toma Susi
- Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tristan Maxson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, USA
| | - Tuomas Rossi
- CSC-IT Center for Science Ltd., P.O. Box 405, FI-02101 Espoo, Finland
| | - Xi Chen
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | | | - Jakob Schiøtz
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas Olsen
- CAMD, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Kim C, Govindarajan N, Hemenway S, Park J, Zoraster A, Kong CJ, Prabhakar RR, Varley JB, Jung HT, Hahn C, Ager JW. Importance of Site Diversity and Connectivity in Electrochemical CO Reduction on Cu. ACS Catal 2024; 14:3128-3138. [PMID: 38449526 PMCID: PMC10913037 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c05904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical CO2 reduction on Cu is a promising approach to produce value-added chemicals using renewable feedstocks, yet various Cu preparations have led to differences in activity and selectivity toward single and multicarbon products. Here, we find, surprisingly, that the effective catalytic activity toward ethylene improves when there is a larger fraction of less active sites acting as reservoirs of *CO on the surface of Cu nanoparticle electrocatalysts. In an adaptation of chemical transient kinetics to electrocatalysis, we measure the dynamic response of a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) cell when the feed gas is abruptly switched between Ar (inert) and CO. When switching from Ar to CO, CO reduction (COR) begins promptly, but when switching from CO to Ar, COR can be maintained for several seconds (delay time) despite the absence of the CO reactant in the gas phase. A three-site microkinetic model captures the observed dynamic behavior and shows that Cu catalysts exhibiting delay times have a less active *CO reservoir that exhibits fast diffusion to active sites. The observed delay times and the estimated *CO reservoir sizes are affected by catalyst preparation, applied potential, and microenvironment (electrolyte cation identity, electrolyte pH, and CO partial pressure). Notably, we estimate that the *CO reservoir surface coverage can be as high as 88 ± 7% on oxide-derived Cu (OD-Cu) at high overpotentials (-1.52 V vs SHE) and this increases in reservoir coverage coincide with increased turnover frequencies to ethylene. We also estimate that *CO can travel substantial distances (up to 10s of nm) prior to desorption or reaction. It appears that active C-C coupling sites by themselves do not control selectivity to C2+ products in electrochemical COR; the supply of CO to those sites is also a crucial factor. More generally, the overall activity of Cu electrocatalysts cannot be approximated from linear combinations of individual site activities. Future designs must consider the diversity of the catalyst network and account for intersite transportation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chansol Kim
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro,
Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
- Clean
Energy Research Center, Korea Institute
of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Nitish Govindarajan
- Materials
Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Sydney Hemenway
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Junho Park
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Anya Zoraster
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Calton J. Kong
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Rajiv Ramanujam Prabhakar
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Joel B. Varley
- Materials
Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Hee-Tae Jung
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro,
Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, South Korea
| | - Christopher Hahn
- Materials
Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Joel W. Ager
- Chemical
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Materials
Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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14
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Deng W, Zhang P, Qiao Y, Kastlunger G, Govindarajan N, Xu A, Chorkendorff I, Seger B, Gong J. Unraveling the rate-determining step of C 2+ products during electrochemical CO reduction. Nat Commun 2024; 15:892. [PMID: 38291057 PMCID: PMC10828390 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45230-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The electrochemical reduction of CO has drawn a large amount of attention due to its potential to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals by using renewable energy. However, the reaction's mechanism is not yet well understood. A major debate is whether the rate-determining step for the generation of multi-carbon products is C-C coupling or CO hydrogenation. This paper conducts an experimental analysis of the rate-determining step, exploring pH dependency, kinetic isotope effects, and the impact of CO partial pressure on multi-carbon product activity. Results reveal constant multi-carbon product activity with pH or electrolyte deuteration changes, and CO partial pressure data aligns with the theoretical formula derived from *CO-*CO coupling as the rate-determining step. These findings establish the dimerization of two *CO as the rate-determining step for multi-carbon product formation. Extending the study to commercial copper nanoparticles and oxide-derived copper catalysts shows their rate-determining step also involves *CO-*CO coupling. This investigation provides vital kinetic data and a theoretical foundation for enhancing multi-carbon product production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyu Deng
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, China
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peng Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, China
| | - Yu Qiao
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nitish Govindarajan
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aoni Xu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Brian Seger
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jinlong Gong
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China.
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, China.
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15
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Clark EL, Hochfilzer D, Seger B, Chorkendorf I. Preventing Alloy Electrocatalyst Segregation in Air Using Sacrificial Passivating Overlayers. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2024; 128:428-435. [PMID: 38229589 PMCID: PMC10789255 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c05493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Many alloy electrocatalysts, including intermetallics, are exceptionally sensitive to segregation in air due to the electronic dissimilarity of the constituent metals. We demonstrate that even alloys with strong cohesive energies rapidly segregate upon air exposure, completely burying the less reactive constituent metal beneath the surface. To circumvent this issue, we develop and validate a new experimental approach for bridging the pressure gap between electronic structure characterization performed under ultrahigh vacuum and electrocatalytic activity testing performed under ambient conditions. This method is based on encapsulation of the alloy surface with a sacrificial passivating overlayer of aluminum oxide. These passivating overlayers protect the underlying material from segregation in the air and can be completely and rapidly removed in an alkaline electrochemical environment under potential control. We demonstrate that alloy surfaces prepared, protected, and introduced into the electrolyte in this manner exhibit near-surface compositions consistent with those of the bulk material despite prior air exposure. We also demonstrate that this protection scheme does not alter the electrocatalytic activity of benchmark electrocatalysts. Implementation of this approach will enable reliable correlations between the electrocatalytic activity measured under ambient conditions and the near-surface electronic structure measured under ultrahigh vacuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra L. Clark
- SurfCat Section for Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Degenhart Hochfilzer
- SurfCat Section for Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Brian Seger
- SurfCat Section for Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorf
- SurfCat Section for Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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16
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Xu Q, Liu S, Longhin F, Kastlunger G, Chorkendorff I, Seger B. Impact of Anodic Oxidation Reactions in the Performance Evaluation of High-Rate CO 2 /CO Electrolysis. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2306741. [PMID: 37880859 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) approach appears to be the most promising technique to realize the high-rate CO2 /CO electrolysis, however there are major challenges related to the crossover of ions and liquid products from cathode to anode via the membrane and the concomitant anodic oxidation reactions (AORs). In this perspective, by combining experimental and theoretical analyses, several impacts of anodic oxidation of liquid products in terms of performance evaluation are investigated. First, the crossover behavior of several typical liquid products through an anion-exchange membrane is analyzed. Subsequently, two instructive examples (introducing formate or ethanol oxidation during electrolysis) reveals that the dynamic change of the anolyte (i.e., pH and composition) not only brings a slight shift of anodic potentials (i.e., change of competing reactions), but also affects the chemical stability of the anode catalyst. Anodic oxidation of liquid products can also cause either over- or under-estimation of the Faradaic efficiency, leading to an inaccurate assessment of overall performance. To comprehensively understand fundamentals of AORs, a theoretical guideline with hierarchical indicators is further developed to predict and regulate the possible AORs in an electrolyzer. The perspective concludes by giving some suggestions on rigorous performance evaluations for high-rate CO2 /CO electrolysis in an MEA-based setup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiucheng Xu
- Surface Physics and Catalysis (Surf Cat) Section, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Sihang Liu
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Francesco Longhin
- Surface Physics and Catalysis (Surf Cat) Section, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Surface Physics and Catalysis (Surf Cat) Section, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Brian Seger
- Surface Physics and Catalysis (Surf Cat) Section, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
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17
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Gong Y, He T. Gaining Deep Understanding of Electrochemical CO 2 RR with In Situ/Operando Techniques. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300702. [PMID: 37608449 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Electrocatalysis for CO2 conversion has been extensively studied to mitigate the energy shortage and environmental issues, which are gaining ever-increasing attention. However, the complicated CO2 reduction process and the dynamic evolution occurring on electrocatalyst surface make it hard to understand the catalytic mechanism. The development of advanced in situ/operando techniques intelligently coupled with electrochemical cells sheds light on the related study via capturing surface atomic rearrangement, tracing chemical state change of catalysts, monitoring the behavior of intermediates and products, and depicting microenvironment near the electrode surface. In this review, fundamentals of the state-of-the-art in situ/operando techniques are clarified first. Case studies on the in situ/operando techniques performed to probe the CO2 reduction reaction processes are then discussed in detail. Finally, conclusions and outlook on this field are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Gong
- CAS Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Tao He
- CAS Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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18
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Liu J, Li P, Bi J, Jia S, Wang Y, Kang X, Sun X, Zhu Q, Han B. Switching between C 2+ Products and CH 4 in CO 2 Electrolysis by Tuning the Composition and Structure of Rare-Earth/Copper Catalysts. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:23037-23047. [PMID: 37820314 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Rational regulation of the reaction pathway to produce the desired products is one of the most significant challenges in the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Herein, we designed a series of rare-earth Cu catalysts with mixed phases. It was found that the products could be switched from C2+ to CH4 by tuning the composition and structure of the catalysts. Particularly at the Cu/Sm atomic ratio of 9/1 (Cu9Sm1-Ox), the Faradaic efficiency (FE) for C2+ products (FEC2+) could reach 81% at 700 mA cm-2 with negligible CH4. However, the FE of CH4 (FECH4) was 65% at 500 mA cm-2 over Cu1Sm9-Ox (Cu/Sm = 1/9), and the FEC2+ was extremely low. Experiments and theoretical studies indicated that the stable CuSm2O4 phase existed in all the catalysts within the Cu/Sm range of 9/1 to 1/9. At a high Cu content, the catalyst was composed of CuSm2O4 and Cu phases. The small amount of Sm could enhance the binding strength of *CO and facilitate C-C coupling. Conversely, at a high Sm content, the catalyst was composed of CuSm2O4 and Sm2O3 phases. Sm could effectively stabilize bivalent Cu and enrich proton donors, lowering the reaction energy of *CO for deep hydrogenation to generate CH4. In both pathways, the stable CuSm2O4 phase could cooperate with the Cu or Sm2O3 phases, which induced the formation of different microenvironments to generate different products. This strategy also had commonality with other Cu-rare-earth (La, Pr, and Eu) catalysts to boost the CO2RR for C2+ or CH4 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyuan Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Pengsong Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiahui Bi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuaiqiang Jia
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinchen Kang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaofu Sun
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qinggong Zhu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Buxing Han
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Laboratory of Colloid and Interface and Thermodynamics, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Center for Carbon Neutral Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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19
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Li P, Jiao Y, Huang J, Chen S. Electric Double Layer Effects in Electrocatalysis: Insights from Ab Initio Simulation and Hierarchical Continuum Modeling. JACS AU 2023; 3:2640-2659. [PMID: 37885580 PMCID: PMC10598835 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Structures of the electric double layer (EDL) at electrocatalytic interfaces, which are modulated by the material properties, the electrolyte characteristics (e.g., the pH, the types and concentrations of ions), and the electrode potential, play crucial roles in the reaction kinetics. Understanding the EDL effects in electrocatalysis has attracted substantial research interest in recent years. However, the intrinsic relationships between the specific EDL structures and electrocatalytic kinetics remain poorly understood, especially on the atomic scale. In this Perspective, we briefly review the recent advances in deciphering the EDL effects mainly in hydrogen and oxygen electrocatalysis through a multiscale approach, spanning from the atomistic scale simulated by ab initio methods to the macroscale by a hierarchical approach. We highlight the importance of resolving the local reaction environment, especially the local hydrogen bond network, in understanding EDL effects. Finally, some of the remaining challenges are outlined, and an outlook for future developments in these exciting frontiers is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuzhou Jiao
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Institute
of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-13: Theory and Computation of
Energy Materials, Forschungszentrum Jülich
GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Theory
of Electrocatalytic Interfaces, Faculty of Georesources and Materials
Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Shengli Chen
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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20
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Clark EL, Nielsen R, Sørensen JE, Needham JL, Seger B, Chorkendorff I. Tuning Surface Reactivity and Electric Field Strength via Intermetallic Alloying. ACS ENERGY LETTERS 2023; 8:4414-4420. [PMID: 37854044 PMCID: PMC10580307 DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.3c01639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Many electrosynthesis reactions, such as CO2 reduction to multicarbon products, involve the formation of dipolar and polarizable transition states during the rate-determining step. Systematic and independent control over surface reactivity and electric field strength would accelerate the discovery of highly active electrocatalysts for these reactions by providing a means of reducing the transition state energy through field stabilization. Herein, we demonstrate that intermetallic alloying enables independent and systematic control over d-band energetics and work function through the variation of alloy composition and oxophilic constituent identity, respectively. We identify several intermetallic phases exhibiting properties that should collectively yield higher intrinsic activity for CO reduction compared to conventional Cu-based electrocatalysts. However, we also highlight the propensity of these alloys to segregate in air as a significant roadblock to investigating their electrocatalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra L. Clark
- Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Nielsen
- Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob Ejler Sørensen
- Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Julius Lucas Needham
- Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Brian Seger
- Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- Surface
Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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21
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Hwang SY, Maeng JY, Park GE, Yang SY, Kim SY, Rhee CK, Sohn Y. New reaction path for long-chain hydrocarbons by electrochemical CO 2 and CO reduction over Au/stainless steel. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 338:139616. [PMID: 37482308 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis is recognized for its ability to produce long-chain hydrocarbons. In this study, we aimed to replicate F-T synthesis using electrochemical CO2 reduction and CO reduction reactions on a stainless steel (SS) support with a gold (Au) overlayer. Under CO2-saturated conditions, the presence of Au on the SS surface led to the formation of CH4 and a range of hydrocarbons (CnH2n and CnH2n+2, n = 2-7), while bare SS primarily produced hydrogen. The Au(10 nm)/SS exhibited the highest hydrocarbon production in CO2-saturated phosphate, indicating a synergistic effect at the Au-SS interface. In CO-saturated conditions, bare SS also produced long-chain hydrocarbons, but increasing Au thickness resulted in decreased production due to poor CO adsorption. Hydrocarbons were formed through both direct and indirect CO adsorption pathways. Anderson-Schulz-Flory analysis confirmed surface CO hydrogenation and C-C coupling polymerization following conventional F-T synthesis. The C2 hydrocarbons exhibited distinct behavior compared to C3-5 hydrocarbons, suggesting different reaction pathways. Despite low reduction product levels, our EC method successfully replicated F-T synthesis using the Au/SS electrode, providing valuable insights into C-C coupling mechanisms and electrochemical production of long-chain hydrocarbons. Depth-profiling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed significant changes in surface elemental compositions before and after EC reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon Young Hwang
- Department of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Young Maeng
- Department of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Go Eun Park
- Department of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Young Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - So Young Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong Kyun Rhee
- Department of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngku Sohn
- Department of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea.
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22
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Liu S, Mukadam Z, Scott SB, Sarma SC, Titirici MM, Chan K, Govindarajan N, Stephens IEL, Kastlunger G. Unraveling the reaction mechanisms for furfural electroreduction on copper. EES CATALYSIS 2023; 1:539-551. [PMID: 37426696 PMCID: PMC10323714 DOI: 10.1039/d3ey00040k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical routes for the valorization of biomass-derived feedstock molecules offer sustainable pathways to produce chemicals and fuels. However, the underlying reaction mechanisms for their electrochemical conversion remain elusive. In particular, the exact role of proton-electron coupled transfer and electrocatalytic hydrogenation in the reaction mechanisms for biomass electroreduction are disputed. In this work, we study the reaction mechanism underlying the electroreduction of furfural, an important biomass-derived platform chemical, combining grand-canonical (constant-potential) density functional theory-based microkinetic simulations and pH dependent experiments on Cu under acidic conditions. Our simulations indicate the second PCET step in the reaction pathway to be the rate- and selectivity-determining step for the production of the two main products of furfural electroreduction on Cu, i.e., furfuryl alcohol and 2-methyl furan, at moderate overpotentials. We further identify the source of Cu's ability to produce both products with comparable activity in their nearly equal activation energies. Furthermore, our microkinetic simulations suggest that surface hydrogenation steps play a minor role in determining the overall activity of furfural electroreduction compared to PCET steps due to the low steady-state hydrogen coverage predicted under reaction conditions, the high activation barriers for surface hydrogenation and the observed pH dependence of the reaction. As a theoretical guideline, low pH (<1.5) and moderate potential (ca. -0.5 V vs. SHE) conditions are suggested for selective 2-MF production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihang Liu
- Department of Physics, Catalysis Theory Center, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
| | - Zamaan Mukadam
- Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London London SW27 AZ England UK
| | - Soren B Scott
- Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London London SW27 AZ England UK
| | - Saurav Ch Sarma
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London London SW7 2AZ England UK
| | - Maria-Magdalena Titirici
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London London SW7 2AZ England UK
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University Sendai Miyagi 980-8577 Japan
| | - Karen Chan
- Department of Physics, Catalysis Theory Center, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
| | - Nitish Govindarajan
- Department of Physics, Catalysis Theory Center, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore California 94550 USA
| | - Ifan E L Stephens
- Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London London SW27 AZ England UK
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Department of Physics, Catalysis Theory Center, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
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23
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Ringe S. The importance of a charge transfer descriptor for screening potential CO 2 reduction electrocatalysts. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2598. [PMID: 37147278 PMCID: PMC10162986 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37929-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been over twenty years since the linear scaling of reaction intermediate adsorption energies started to coin the fields of heterogeneous and electrocatalysis as a blessing and a curse at the same time. It has established the possibility to construct activity volcano plots as a function of a single or two readily accessible adsorption energies as descriptors, but also limited the maximal catalytic conversion rate. In this work, it is found that these established adsorption energy-based descriptor spaces are not applicable to electrochemistry, because they are lacking an important additional dimension, the potential of zero charge. This extra dimension arises from the interaction of the electric double layer with reaction intermediates which does not scale with adsorption energies. At the example of the electrochemical reduction of CO2 it is shown that the addition of this descriptor breaks the scaling relations, opening up a huge chemical space that is readily accessible via potential of zero charge-based material design. The potential of zero charge also explains product selectivity trends of electrochemical CO2 reduction in close agreement with reported experimental data highlighting its importance for electrocatalyst design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Ringe
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Kastlunger G, Heenen HH, Govindarajan N. Combining First-Principles Kinetics and Experimental Data to Establish Guidelines for Product Selectivity in Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction. ACS Catal 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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25
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Liu T, Wang Y, Li Y. Can Metal-Nitrogen-Carbon Single-Atom Catalysts Boost the Electroreduction of Carbon Monoxide? JACS AU 2023; 3:943-952. [PMID: 37006764 PMCID: PMC10052228 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Metal-nitrogen-carbon single-atom catalysts (SACs) have exhibited substantial potential for CO2 electroreduction. Unfortunately, the SACs generally cannot generate chemicals other than CO, while deep reduction products are more appealing because of their higher market potential, and the origin of governing CO reduction (COR) remains elusive. Here, by using constant-potential/hybrid-solvent modeling and revisiting Cu catalysts, we show that the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism is of importance for *CO hydrogenation, and the pristine SACs lack another site to place *H, thus preventing their COR. Then, we propose a regulation strategy to enable COR on the SACs: (I) the metal site has a moderate CO adsorption affinity; (II) the graphene skeleton is doped by a heteroatom to allow *H formation; and (III) the distance between the heteroatom and the metal atom is appropriate to facilitate *H migration. We discover a P-doped Fe-N-C SAC with promising COR reactivity and further extend this model to other SACs. This work provides mechanistic insight into the limiting factors of COR and highlights the rational design of the local structures of active centers in electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power
Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Biomedical Functional
Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Yu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power
Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Biomedical Functional
Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Yafei Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Power
Batteries, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre of Biomedical Functional
Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
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26
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Hou J, Chang X, Li J, Xu B, Lu Q. Correlating CO Coverage and CO Electroreduction on Cu via High-Pressure in Situ Spectroscopic and Reactivity Investigations. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22202-22211. [PMID: 36404600 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c09956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The absolute coverage of CO has been a missing piece in the mechanistic puzzle of the CO reduction reaction (CORR) on Cu. For the first time, we revealed the upper bound of the CO coverage under electrocatalytic conditions to be 0.05 monolayer at atmospheric pressure and the saturation CO coverage to be ∼0.25 monolayer by conducting surface enhanced infrared spectroscopy at CO pressures up to 60 barg in a custom-designed spectroelectrochemical cell. CORR activities on Cu were also determined in the same pressure range. Calculated reaction orders of C2+ products with respect to adsorbed CO are substantially less than unity, clearly indicating that the coupling of adsorbed CO is not the rate-determining step leading to multicarbon products. The increase in CO coverage can reduce the C affinity on the Cu surface and favor the selectivity towards oxygenates, especially acetate, over ethylene. Uncommon products, including ethane, glycolaldehyde, and ethylene glycol, were detected in appreciable amounts, likely due to a new C-C coupling mechanism taking place at elevated CO pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Xiaoxia Chang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Bingjun Xu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Qi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
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27
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Lindgren P, Kastlunger G, Peterson AA. Electrochemistry from the atomic scale, in the electronically grand-canonical ensemble. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:180902. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0123656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to simulate electrochemical reactions from first-principles has advanced significantly in recent years. Here, we discuss the atomistic interpretation of electrochemistry at three scales: from the electronic structure to elementary processes to constant-potential reactions. At each scale, we highlight the importance of the grand-canonical nature of the process and show that the grand-canonical energy is the natural thermodynamic state variable, which has the additional benefit of simplifying calculations. We show that atomic forces are the derivative of the grand-potential energy when the potential is fixed. We further examine the meaning of potential at the atomic scale and its link to the chemical potential and discuss the link between charge transfer and potential in several situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Lindgren
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andrew A. Peterson
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
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28
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Shin SJ, Choi H, Ringe S, Won DH, Oh HS, Kim DH, Lee T, Nam DH, Kim H, Choi CH. A unifying mechanism for cation effect modulating C1 and C2 productions from CO 2 electroreduction. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5482. [PMID: 36123326 PMCID: PMC9485141 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33199-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrocatalysis, whose reaction venue locates at the catalyst-electrolyte interface, is controlled by the electron transfer across the electric double layer, envisaging a mechanistic link between the electron transfer rate and the electric double layer structure. A fine example is in the CO2 reduction reaction, of which rate shows a strong dependence on the alkali metal cation (M+) identity, but there is yet to be a unified molecular picture for that. Using quantum-mechanics-based atom-scale simulation, we herein scrutinize the M+-coupling capability to possible intermediates, and establish H+- and M+-associated ET mechanisms for CH4 and CO/C2H4 formations, respectively. These theoretical scenarios are successfully underpinned by Nernstian shifts of polarization curves with the H+ or M+ concentrations and the first-order kinetics of CO/C2H4 formation on the electrode surface charge density. Our finding further rationalizes the merit of using Nafion-coated electrode for enhanced C2 production in terms of enhanced surface charge density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Jae Shin
- grid.37172.300000 0001 2292 0500Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Hansol Choi
- grid.61221.360000 0001 1033 9831School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005 Republic of Korea
| | - Stefan Ringe
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Da Hye Won
- grid.35541.360000000121053345Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Suk Oh
- grid.35541.360000000121053345Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Kim
- grid.49100.3c0000 0001 0742 4007Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673 Republic of Korea
| | - Taemin Lee
- grid.417736.00000 0004 0438 6721Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, 42988 Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hyun Nam
- grid.417736.00000 0004 0438 6721Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, 42988 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyungjun Kim
- grid.37172.300000 0001 2292 0500Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hyuck Choi
- grid.49100.3c0000 0001 0742 4007Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673 Republic of Korea
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29
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Duong HP, Tran NH, Rousse G, Zanna S, Schreiber MW, Fontecave M. Highly Selective Copper-Based Catalysts for Electrochemical Conversion of Carbon Monoxide to Ethylene Using a Gas-Fed Flow Electrolyzer. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c03143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Phong Duong
- Laboratoire Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8229, Collège de France, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France
| | - Ngoc-Huan Tran
- Laboratoire Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8229, Collège de France, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France
| | - Gwenaëlle Rousse
- Laboratoire de Chimie du Solide et Energie, FRE 3677 Collège de France, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France
| | - Sandrine Zanna
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL Research University, CNRS, Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris (IRCP), 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Moritz W. Schreiber
- Total Research and Technology, Refining and Chemicals, Division CO2 Conversion, Feluy, 7181 Seneffe, Belgium
| | - Marc Fontecave
- Laboratoire Laboratoire de Chimie des Processus Biologiques, CNRS UMR 8229, Collège de France, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France
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30
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Shi Y, Sun K, Shan J, Li H, Gao J, Chen Z, Sun C, Shuai Y, Wang Z. Selective CO 2 Electromethanation on Surface-Modified Cu Catalyst by Local Microenvironment Modulation. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c01544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yaoxuan Shi
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Kun Sun
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Jingjing Shan
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Huiyi Li
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Jianmin Gao
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zhaoyu Chen
- Space Environment Simulation Research Infrastructure, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Chengyue Sun
- Space Environment Simulation Research Infrastructure, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Yong Shuai
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zhijiang Wang
- MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
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31
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Dattila F, Seemakurthi RR, Zhou Y, López N. Modeling Operando Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction. Chem Rev 2022; 122:11085-11130. [PMID: 35476402 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Since the seminal works on the application of density functional theory and the computational hydrogen electrode to electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) and hydrogen evolution (HER), the modeling of both reactions has quickly evolved for the last two decades. Formulation of thermodynamic and kinetic linear scaling relationships for key intermediates on crystalline materials have led to the definition of activity volcano plots, overpotential diagrams, and full exploitation of these theoretical outcomes at laboratory scale. However, recent studies hint at the role of morphological changes and short-lived intermediates in ruling the catalytic performance under operating conditions, further raising the bar for the modeling of electrocatalytic systems. Here, we highlight some novel methodological approaches employed to address eCO2R and HER reactions. Moving from the atomic scale to the bulk electrolyte, we first show how ab initio and machine learning methodologies can partially reproduce surface reconstruction under operation, thus identifying active sites and reaction mechanisms if coupled with microkinetic modeling. Later, we introduce the potential of density functional theory and machine learning to interpret data from Operando spectroelectrochemical techniques, such as Raman spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure characterization. Next, we review the role of electrolyte and mass transport effects. Finally, we suggest further challenges for computational modeling in the near future as well as our perspective on the directions to follow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Dattila
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Av. Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Ranga Rohit Seemakurthi
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Av. Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Yecheng Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Núria López
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Av. Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
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32
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Hochfilzer D, Xu A, Sørensen JE, Needham JL, Krempl K, Toudahl KK, Kastlunger G, Chorkendorff I, Chan K, Kibsgaard J. Transients in Electrochemical CO Reduction Explained by Mass Transport of Buffers. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c00412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Degenhart Hochfilzer
- SurfCat Section for Surface Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aoni Xu
- CatTheory, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob Ejler Sørensen
- SurfCat Section for Surface Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Julius Lucas Needham
- SurfCat Section for Surface Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kevin Krempl
- SurfCat Section for Surface Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karl Krøjer Toudahl
- SurfCat Section for Surface Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- CatTheory, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ib Chorkendorff
- SurfCat Section for Surface Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karen Chan
- CatTheory, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jakob Kibsgaard
- SurfCat Section for Surface Physics and Catalysis, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
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