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Saravanan PK, Bhalothia D, Huang GH, Beniwal A, Cheng M, Chao YC, Lin MW, Chen PC, Chen TY. Sub-Millisecond Laser-Irradiation-Mediated Surface Restructure Boosts the CO Production Yield of Cobalt Oxide Supported Pd Nanoparticles. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13111801. [PMID: 37299704 DOI: 10.3390/nano13111801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The catalytic conversion of CO2 into valuable commodities has the potential to balance ongoing energy and environmental issues. To this end, the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction is a key process that converts CO2 into CO for various industrial processes. However, the competitive CO2 methanation reaction severely limits the CO production yield; therefore, a highly CO-selective catalyst is needed. To address this issue, we have developed a bimetallic nanocatalyst comprising Pd nanoparticles on the cobalt oxide support (denoted as CoPd) via a wet chemical reduction method. Furthermore, the as-prepared CoPd nanocatalyst was exposed to sub-millisecond laser irradiation with per-pulse energies of 1 mJ (denoted as CoPd-1) and 10 mJ (denoted as CoPd-10) for a fixed duration of 10 s to optimize the catalytic activity and selectivity. For the optimum case, the CoPd-10 nanocatalyst exhibited the highest CO production yield of ∼1667 μmol g-1catalyst, with a CO selectivity of ∼88% at a temperature of 573 K, which is a 41% improvement over pristine CoPd (~976 μmol g-1catalyst). The in-depth analysis of structural characterizations along with gas chromatography (GC) and electrochemical analysis suggested that such a high catalytic activity and selectivity of the CoPd-10 nanocatalyst originated from the sub-millisecond laser-irradiation-assisted facile surface restructure of cobalt oxide supported Pd nanoparticles, where atomic CoOx species were observed in the defect sites of the Pd nanoparticles. Such an atomic manipulation led to the formation of heteroatomic reaction sites, where atomic CoOx species and adjacent Pd domains, respectively, promoted the CO2 activation and H2 splitting steps. In addition, the cobalt oxide support helped to donate electrons to Pd, thereby enhancing its ability of H2 splitting. These results provide a strong foundation to use sub-millisecond laser irradiation for catalytic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Kumar Saravanan
- Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
| | - Dinesh Bhalothia
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Guo-Heng Huang
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Amisha Beniwal
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Mingxing Cheng
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GJ, UK
| | - Yu-Chieh Chao
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
- Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Lin
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
- Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chun Chen
- Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
| | - Tsan-Yao Chen
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
- Hierarchical Green-Energy Materials (Hi-GEM) Research Centre, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
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Fotopoulos V, Mora-Fonz D, Kleinbichler M, Bodlos R, Kozeschnik E, Romaner L, Shluger AL. Structure and Migration Mechanisms of Small Vacancy Clusters in Cu: A Combined EAM and DFT Study. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13091464. [PMID: 37177009 PMCID: PMC10180345 DOI: 10.3390/nano13091464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Voids in face-centered cubic (fcc) metals are commonly assumed to form via the aggregation of vacancies; however, the mechanisms of vacancy clustering and diffusion are not fully understood. In this study, we use computational modeling to provide a detailed insight into the structures and formation energies of primary vacancy clusters, mechanisms and barriers for their migration in bulk copper, and how these properties are affected at simple grain boundaries. The calculations were carried out using embedded atom method (EAM) potentials and density functional theory (DFT) and employed the site-occupation disorder code (SOD), the activation relaxation technique nouveau (ARTn) and the knowledge led master code (KLMC). We investigate stable structures and migration paths and barriers for clusters of up to six vacancies. The migration of vacancy clusters occurs via hops of individual constituent vacancies with di-vacancies having a significantly smaller migration barrier than mono-vacancies and other clusters. This barrier is further reduced when di-vacancies interact with grain boundaries. This interaction leads to the formation of self-interstitial atoms and introduces significant changes into the boundary structure. Tetra-, penta-, and hexa-vacancy clusters exhibit increasingly complex migration paths and higher barriers than smaller clusters. Finally, a direct comparison with the DFT results shows that EAM can accurately describe the vacancy-induced relaxation effects in the Cu bulk and in grain boundaries. Significant discrepancies between the two methods were found in structures with a higher number of low-coordinated atoms, such as penta-vacancies and di-vacancy absortion by grain boundary. These results will be useful for modeling the mechanisms of diffusion of complex defect structures and provide further insights into the structural evolution of metal films under thermal and mechanical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Fotopoulos
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - David Mora-Fonz
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Manuel Kleinbichler
- KAI-Kompetenzzentrum Automobil- und Industrieelektronik GmbH, Europastrasse 8, 9524 Villach, Austria
| | - Rishi Bodlos
- Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH (MCL), Roseggerstraße 12, 8700 Leoben, Austria
| | - Ernst Kozeschnik
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lorenz Romaner
- Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH (MCL), Roseggerstraße 12, 8700 Leoben, Austria
- Department of Materials Science, Montanuniversität Leoben, Franz-Josef Straße 18, 8700 Leoben, Austria
| | - Alexander L Shluger
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
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Optimization of SnPd Shell Configuration to Boost ORR Performance of Pt-Clusters Decorated CoOx@SnPd Core-Shell Nanocatalyst. Catalysts 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/catal12111411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fuel cells are expected to bring change to the whole human race when commercialized, however, the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) severely hampers their commercial viability. Thus far, platinum (Pt) based catalysts are nearly inevitable due to the harsh redox environment of fuel cells. Thus, minimizing Pt metal loading and increasing Pt utilization is a paramount factor for realizing fuel cell technologies. In this context, herein, we developed a multi-metallic nanocatalyst (NC) comprising Pt-clusters (1 wt.%) decorated SnPd composite shell over cobalt-oxide core crystal underneath (denoted as CSPP). For optimizing the ORR performance of the as-prepared NC, we further modulated the configuration of the SnPd shell. In the optimum case, when the Sn/Pd ratio is 0.5 (denoted as CSPP 1005), the ORR mass activity (MA) is 3034.7 mA mgPt−1 at 0.85 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte, which is 45-times higher than the commercial Johnson Matthey-Pt/C (J.M.-Pt/C; 20 wt.% Pt) catalyst (67 mA mgPt−1). The results of physical inspections along with electrochemical analysis suggest that such high performance of CSPP 1005 NC can be attributed to the synergistic collaboration between Pt-clusters, PtPd nanoalloys, and adjacent SnPd domains, where Pt-clusters and PtPd nanoalloys promote the O2 adsorption and subsequent splitting, while the SnPd shell favours the OH− relocation step. We believe that the obtained results will open a new avenue for further exploring the high-performance Pt-based catalysts with low Pt-loading and high utilization.
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Beniwal A, Bhalothia D, Yeh W, Cheng M, Yan C, Chen PC, Wang KW, Chen TY. Co-Existence of Atomic Pt and CoPt Nanoclusters on Co/SnO x Mix-Oxide Demonstrates an Ultra-High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:2824. [PMID: 36014688 PMCID: PMC9413684 DOI: 10.3390/nano12162824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
An effective approach for increasing the Noble metal-utilization by decorating the atomic Pt clusters (1 wt.%) on the CoO2@SnPd2 nanoparticle (denoted as CSPP) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is demonstrated in this study. For the optimum case when the impregnation temperature for Co-crystal growth is 50 °C (denoted as CSPP-50), the CoPt nanoalloys and Pt-clusters decoration with multiple metal-to-metal oxide interfaces are formed. Such a nanocatalyst (NC) outperforms the commercial Johnson Matthey-Pt/C (J.M.-Pt/C; 20 wt.% Pt) catalyst by 78-folds with an outstanding mass activity (MA) of 4330 mA mgPt-1 at 0.85 V vs. RHE in an alkaline medium (0.1 M KOH). The results of physical structure inspections along with electrochemical analysis suggest that such a remarkable ORR performance is dominated by the potential synergism between the surface anchored Pt-clusters, CoPt-nanoalloys, and adjacent SnPd2 domain, where Pt-clusters offer ideal adsorption energy for O2 splitting and CoPt-nanoalloys along with SnPd2 domain boost the subsequent desorption of hydroxide ions (OH-).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amisha Beniwal
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Dinesh Bhalothia
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Wei Yeh
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Mingxing Cheng
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Che Yan
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chun Chen
- Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Wen Wang
- Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan
| | - Tsan-Yao Chen
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
- Hierarchical Green-Energy Materials (Hi-GEM) Research Centre, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
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Recent Advancements and Future Prospects of Noble Metal-Based Heterogeneous Nanocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10217708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) both are key electrochemical reactions for enabling next generation alternative-power supply technologies. Despite great merits, both of these reactions require robust electrocatalysts for lowering the overpotential and promoting their practical applications in energy conversion and storage devices. Although, noble metal-based catalysts (especially Pt-based catalysts) are at the forefront in boosting the ORR and HER kinetics, high cost, limited availability, and poor stability in harsh redox conditions make them unfit for scalable use. To this end, various strategies including downsizing the catalyst size, reducing the noble metal, and increasing metal utilization have been adopted to appropriately balance the performance and economic issues. This mini-review presents an overview of the current state of the technological advancements in noble metal-based heterogeneous nanocatalysts (NCs) for both ORR and HER applications. More specifically, we focused on establishing the structure–performance correlation.
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Atomic Pt-Clusters Decoration Triggers a High-Rate Performance on Ni@Pd Bimetallic Nanocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Both Alkaline and Acidic Medium. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10155155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The development of inexpensive and highly robust nanocatalysts (NCs) to boost electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) strengthens the implementation of several emerging sustainable-energy technologies. Herein, we proposed a novel nano-architecture consisting of a hierarchical structured Ni@Pd nanocatalyst with Pt-clusters decoration on the surface (denoted by Ni@Pd-Pt) for HER application in acidic (0.5 M H2SO4) and alkaline (0.1 M KOH) mediums. The Ni@Pd-Pt NC is fabricated on a carbon black support via a “self-aligned” heterogeneous nucleation-crystal growth mechanism with 2 wt.% Pt-content. As-prepared Ni@Pd-Pt NC outperforms the standard Pt/C (30 wt.% Pt) catalyst in HER and delivers high-rate catalytic performance with an ultra-low overpotential (11.5 mV) at the cathodic current density of 10 mA∙cm−2 in alkaline medium, which is 161.5 mV and 14.5 mV less compared to Ni@Pd (173 mV) and standard Pt/C (26 mV) catalysts, respectively. Moreover, Ni@Pd-Pt NC achieves an exactly similar Tafel slope (42 mV∙dec−1) to standard Pt/C, which is 114 mV∙dec−1 lesser when compared to Ni@Pd NC. Besides, Ni@Pd-Pt NC exhibits an overpotential value of 37 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 in acidic medium, which is competitive to standard Pt/C catalyst. By utilizing physical characterizations and electrochemical analysis, we demonstrated that such an aggressive HER activity is dominated by the increased selectivity during HER due to the reduced competition between intermediate products on the non-homogeneous NC surface. This phenomenon can be rationalized by electron localization owing to the electronegative difference (χPt > χPd > χNi) and strong lattice mismatch at the Ni@Pd heterogeneous binary interfaces. We believe that the obtained results will significantly provide a facile design strategy to develop next-generation heterogenous NCs for HER and related green-energy applications
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