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Niu Z, Zhao W, Deng H, Tian L, Pinfield VJ, Ming P, Wang Y. Generative Artificial Intelligence for Designing Multi-Scale Hydrogen Fuel Cell Catalyst Layer Nanostructures. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 38984372 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c04943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Multiscale design of catalyst layers (CLs) is important to advancing hydrogen electrochemical conversion devices toward commercialized deployment, which has nevertheless been greatly hampered by the complex interplay among multiscale CL components, high synthesis cost and vast design space. We lack rational design and optimization techniques that can accurately reflect the nanostructure-performance relationship and cost-effectively search the design space. Here, we fill this gap with a deep generative artificial intelligence (AI) framework, GLIDER, that integrates recent generative AI, data-driven surrogate techniques and collective intelligence to efficiently search the optimal CL nanostructures driven by their electrochemical performance. GLIDER achieves realistic multiscale CL digital generation by leveraging the dimensionality-reduction ability of quantized vector-variational autoencoder. The powerful generative capability of GLIDER allows the efficient search of the optimal design parameters for the Pt-carbon-ionomer nanostructures of CLs. We also demonstrate that GLIDER is transferable to other fuel cell electrode microstructure generation, e.g., fibrous gas diffusion layers and solid oxide fuel cell anode. GLIDER is of potential as a digital tool for the design and optimization of broad electrochemical energy devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Niu
- Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, U.K
| | - Wanhui Zhao
- College of Aeronautical Engineering, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Shanghai Hydrogen Propulsion Technology Company Limited, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Lu Tian
- Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, U.K
| | - Valerie J Pinfield
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, U.K
| | - Pingwen Ming
- Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Centre, School of Automotive Studies, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Renewable Energy Resources Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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Otic CJC, Katayama S, Arao M, Matsumoto M, Imai H, Kinefuchi I. Water Condensation in the Nanoscale Pores of Pt/C Catalyst Particles and Its Impact on Catalyst Utilization: A Simulation Based on a Reconstructed Structure from Nanoimaging. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38606963 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
In polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) catalyst particles require sufficient water condensation within the nanoscale pores to effectively utilize the interior Pt catalysts. Since experimental visualizations with nanoscale precision of this phenomenon are not yet possible, we utilized a Pt/C catalyst particle reconstructed from segmented nanoimaging of a catalyst powder, which served as the computational domain for lattice density functional theory (LDFT) simulation of water condensation. Paired with experimental water uptake data, LDFT successfully simulated high-resolution water condensation, capturing both thin-film and capillary water condensation phenomena. Using a simple proton movement method within the water network, we reproduced the Pt utilization data from a CO stripping experiment. Our findings highlight that at low relative humidity (RH), Pt utilization is influenced by thin water film formations, mainly dictated by the wettability properties of surfaces within primary pores and the Pt/C catalyst particle's exterior. Conversely, at high RH, Pt utilization is attributed to capillary water condensation in medium-to-large sized pores. This approach contributes a qualitative and quantitative discussion on hypotheses regarding the mechanism of Pt utilization, supporting recent studies (e.g., Girod, R.; Nat. Catal. 2023, 6, (5), 383-391).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shota Katayama
- FC-Cubic, Nesrad, 3147 Shimomukoyama-cho, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-1507, Japan
| | - Masazumi Arao
- FC-Cubic, Nesrad, 3147 Shimomukoyama-cho, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-1507, Japan
| | - Masashi Matsumoto
- FC-Cubic, Nesrad, 3147 Shimomukoyama-cho, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-1507, Japan
| | - Hideto Imai
- FC-Cubic, Nesrad, 3147 Shimomukoyama-cho, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-1507, Japan
| | - Ikuya Kinefuchi
- The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
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Quan L, Jiang H, Mei G, Sun Y, You B. Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Overall and Hybrid Water Splitting. Chem Rev 2024; 124:3694-3812. [PMID: 38517093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic water splitting driven by renewable electricity has been recognized as a promising approach for green hydrogen production. Different from conventional strategies in developing electrocatalysts for the two half-reactions of water splitting (e.g., the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, HER and OER) separately, there has been a growing interest in designing and developing bifunctional electrocatalysts, which are able to catalyze both the HER and OER. In addition, considering the high overpotentials required for OER while limited value of the produced oxygen, there is another rapidly growing interest in exploring alternative oxidation reactions to replace OER for hybrid water splitting toward energy-efficient hydrogen generation. This Review begins with an introduction on the fundamental aspects of water splitting, followed by a thorough discussion on various physicochemical characterization techniques that are frequently employed in probing the active sites, with an emphasis on the reconstruction of bifunctional electrocatalysts during redox electrolysis. The design, synthesis, and performance of diverse bifunctional electrocatalysts based on noble metals, nonprecious metals, and metal-free nanocarbons, for overall water splitting in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, are thoroughly summarized and compared. Next, their application toward hybrid water splitting is also presented, wherein the alternative anodic reactions include sacrificing agents oxidation, pollutants oxidative degradation, and organics oxidative upgrading. Finally, a concise statement on the current challenges and future opportunities of bifunctional electrocatalysts for both overall and hybrid water splitting is presented in the hope of guiding future endeavors in the quest for energy-efficient and sustainable green hydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Quan
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Guoliang Mei
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Yujie Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, United States
| | - Bo You
- Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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Rossi K, Ruiz-Ferrando A, Akl DF, Abalos VG, Heras-Domingo J, Graux R, Hai X, Lu J, Garcia-Gasulla D, López N, Pérez-Ramírez J, Mitchell S. Quantitative Description of Metal Center Organization and Interactions in Single-Atom Catalysts. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307991. [PMID: 37757786 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Ultra-high-density single-atom catalysts (UHD-SACs) present unique opportunities for harnessing cooperative effects between neighboring metal centers. However, the lack of tools to establish correlations between the density, types, and arrangements of isolated metal atoms and the support surface properties hinders efforts to engineer advanced material architectures. Here, this work precisely describes the metal center organization in various mono- and multimetallic UHD-SACs based on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) supports by coupling transmission electron microscopy with tailored machine-learning methods (released as a user-friendly web app) and density functional theory simulations. This approach quantifies the non-negligible presence of multimers with increasing atom density, characterizes the size and shape of these low-nuclearity clusters, and identifies surface atom density criteria to ensure isolation. Further, it provides previously inaccessible experimental insights into coordination site arrangements in the NC host, uncovering a repulsive interaction that influences the disordered distribution of metal centers in UHD-SACs. This observation holds in multimetallic systems, where chemically-specific analysis quantifies the degree of intermixing. These fundamental insights into the materials chemistry of single-atom catalysts are crucial for designing catalytic systems with superior reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Rossi
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Ruiz-Ferrando
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Avenida Països Catalans 16, Tarragona, 43007, Spain
- Departament de Química Física i Inorgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Carrer de Marcellí Domingo 1, Tarragona, 43007, Spain
| | - Dario Faust Akl
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | | | - Javier Heras-Domingo
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Avenida Països Catalans 16, Tarragona, 43007, Spain
| | - Romain Graux
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Route Cantonale, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Xiao Hai
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Jiong Lu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 3, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research Centre, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 2, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 2, Singapore, 117544, Singapore
| | - Dario Garcia-Gasulla
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Plaça d'Eusebi Güell 1-3, Barcelona, 08034, Spain
| | - Nuria López
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Avenida Països Catalans 16, Tarragona, 43007, Spain
| | - Javier Pérez-Ramírez
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Sharon Mitchell
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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Bijelić L, Ruiz-Zepeda F, Hodnik N. The role of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy in unraveling the structure-property relationships of Pt-based fuel cells electrocatalysts. Inorg Chem Front 2024; 11:323-341. [PMID: 38235274 PMCID: PMC10790562 DOI: 10.1039/d3qi01998e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Platinum-based fuel cell electrocatalysts are structured on a nano level in order to extend their active surface area and maximize the utilization of precious and scarce platinum. Their performance is dictated by the atomic arrangement of their surface layers atoms via structure-property relationships. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) are the preferred methods for characterizing these catalysts, due to their capacity to achieve local atomic-level resolutions. Size, morphology, strain and local composition are just some of the properties of Pt-based nanostructures that can be obtained by (S)TEM. Furthermore, advanced methods of (S)TEM are able to provide insights into the quasi-in situ, in situ or even operando stability of these nanostructures. In this review, we present state-of-the-art applications of (S)TEM in the investigation and interpretation of structure-activity and structure-stability relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lazar Bijelić
- Laboratory for Electrocatalysis, Department of Materials Chemistry, National Insititute of Chemistry Hajdrihova 19 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
- University of Nova Gorica Vipavska 13 Nova Gorica SI-5000 Slovenia
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda
- Laboratory for Electrocatalysis, Department of Materials Chemistry, National Insititute of Chemistry Hajdrihova 19 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
- Department of Physics and Chemistry of Materials, Institute for Metals and Technology IMT Lepi pot 11 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Nejc Hodnik
- Laboratory for Electrocatalysis, Department of Materials Chemistry, National Insititute of Chemistry Hajdrihova 19 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
- University of Nova Gorica Vipavska 13 Nova Gorica SI-5000 Slovenia
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Tang M, Yan H, Zhang X, Zheng Z, Chen S. Materials Strategies Tackling Interfacial Issues in Catalyst Layers of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2306387. [PMID: 38018316 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The most critical challenge for the large-scale commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), one of the primary hydrogen energy technologies, is to achieve decent output performance with low usage of platinum (Pt). Currently, the performance of PEMFCs is largely limited by two issues at the catalyst/ionomer interface, specifically, the poisoning of active sites of Pt by sulfonate groups and the extremely sluggish local oxygen transport toward Pt. In the past few years, emerging strategies are derived to tackle these interface problems through materials optimization and innovation. This perspective summarizes the latest advances in this regard, and in the meantime unveils the molecule-level mechanisms behind the materials modulation of interfacial structures. This paper starts with a brief introduction of processes and structures of catalyst/ionomer interfaces, which is followed by a detailed review of progresses in key materials toward interface optimization, including catalysts, ionomers, and additives, with particular emphasis on the role of materials structure in regulating the intermolecular interactions. Finally, the challenges for the application of the established materials and research directions to broaden the material library are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihua Tang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Huangli Yan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Xianming Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Zhenying Zheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Shengli Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
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