1
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Hicks MH, Nie W, Boehme AE, Atwater HA, Agapie T, Peters JC. Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction in Acidic Electrolytes: Spectroscopic Evidence for Local pH Gradients. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:25282-25289. [PMID: 39215715 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c09512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Inspired by recent advances in electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) under acidic conditions, herein we leverage in situ spectroscopy to inform the optimization of CO2R at low pH. Using attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) and fluorescent confocal laser scanning microscopy, we investigate the role that alkali cations (M+) play on electrochemical CO2R. This study hence provides important information related to the local electrode surface pH under bulk acidic conditions for CO2R, both in the presence and absence of an organic film layer, at variable [M+]. We show that in an acidic electrolyte, an appropriate current density can enable CO2R in the absence of metal cations. In situ local pH measurements suggest the local [H+] must be sufficiently depleted to promote H2O reduction as the competing reaction with CO2R. Incrementally incorporating [K+] leads to increases in the local pH that promotes CO2R but only at proton consumption rates sufficient to drive the pH up dramatically. Stark tuning measurements and analysis of surface water structure reveal no change in the electric field with [M+] and a desorption of interfacial water, indicating that improved CO2R performance is driven by suppression of H+ mass transport and modification of the interfacial solvation structure. In situ pH measurements confirm increasing local pH, and therefore decreased local [CO2], with [M+], motivating alternate means of modulating proton transport. We show that an organic film formed via in situ electrodeposition of an organic additive provides a means to achieve selective CO2R (FECO2R ∼ 65%) over hydrogen evolution reaction in the presence of strong acid (pH 1) and low cation concentrations (≤0.1 M) at both low and high current densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline H Hicks
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance (LiSA), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Weixuan Nie
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance (LiSA), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Annette E Boehme
- Department of Applied Physics and Material Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance (LiSA), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Harry A Atwater
- Department of Applied Physics and Material Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance (LiSA), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Theodor Agapie
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance (LiSA), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Jonas C Peters
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance (LiSA), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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2
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Han SM, Park M, Kim J, Lee D. Boosting the Electroreduction of CO 2 to CO by Ligand Engineering of Gold Nanoclusters. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202404387. [PMID: 38757232 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404387] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has been widely studied as a promising means to convert anthropogenic CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. In this process, the alkali metal ions present in the electrolyte are known to significantly influence the CO2RR activity and selectivity. In this study, we report a strategy for preparing efficient electrocatalysts by introducing a cation-relaying ligand, namely 6-mercaptohexanoic acid (MHA), into atom-precise Au25 nanoclusters (NCs). The CO2RR activity of the synthesized Au25(MHA)18 NCs was compared with that of Au25(HT)18 NCs (HT=1-hexanethiolate). While both NCs selectively produced CO over H2, the CO2-to-CO conversion activity of the Au25(MHA)18 NCs was significantly higher than that of the Au25(HT)18 NCs when the catholyte pH was higher than the pKa of MHA, demonstrating the cation-relaying effect of the anionic terminal group. Mechanistic investigations into the CO2RR occurring on the Au25 NCs in the presence of different catholyte cations and concentrations revealed that the CO2-to-CO conversion activities of these Au25 NCs increased in the order Li+
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Myeong Han
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Minyoung Park
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyoung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongil Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
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3
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Fan J, Arrazolo LK, Du J, Xu H, Fang S, Liu Y, Wu Z, Kim JH, Wu X. Effects of Ionic Interferents on Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction: Mechanistic Insight. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12823-12845. [PMID: 38954631 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate, a prevalent water pollutant, poses substantial public health concerns and environmental risks. Electrochemical reduction of nitrate (eNO3RR) has emerged as an effective alternative to conventional biological treatments. While extensive lab work has focused on designing efficient electrocatalysts, implementation of eNO3RR in practical wastewater settings requires careful consideration of the effects of various constituents in real wastewater. In this critical review, we examine the interference of ionic species commonly encountered in electrocatalytic systems and universally present in wastewater, such as halogen ions, alkali metal cations, and other divalent/trivalent ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-/CO32-, SO42-, and PO43-). Notably, we categorize and discuss the interfering mechanisms into four groups: (1) loss of active catalytic sites caused by competitive adsorption and precipitation, (2) electrostatic interactions in the electric double layer (EDL), including ion pairs and the shielding effect, (3) effects on the selectivity of N intermediates and final products (N2 or NH3), and (4) complications by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and localized pH on the cathode surface. Finally, we summarize the competition among different mechanisms and propose future directions for a deeper mechanistic understanding of ionic impacts on eNO3RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Fan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Leslie K Arrazolo
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Jiaxin Du
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Huimin Xu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Fang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongbiao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Jae-Hong Kim
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Xuanhao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
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4
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Hsu YS, Rathnayake ST, Waegele MM. Cation effects in hydrogen evolution and CO2-to-CO conversion: A critical perspective. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:160901. [PMID: 38651806 DOI: 10.1063/5.0201751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The rates of many electrocatalytic reactions can be strongly affected by the structure and dynamics of the electrochemical double layer, which in turn can be tuned by the concentration and identity of the supporting electrolyte's cation. The effect of cations on an electrocatalytic process depends on a complex interplay between electrolyte components, electrode material and surface structure, applied electrode potential, and reaction intermediates. Although cation effects remain insufficiently understood, the principal mechanisms underlying cation-dependent reactivity and selectivity are beginning to emerge. In this Perspective, we summarize and critically examine recent advances in this area in the context of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO2-to-CO conversion, which are among the most intensively studied and promising electrocatalytic reactions for the sustainable production of commodity chemicals and fuels. Improving the kinetics of the HER in base and enabling energetically efficient and selective CO2 reduction at low pH are key challenges in electrocatalysis. The physical insights from the recent literature illustrate how cation effects can be utilized to help achieve these goals and to steer other electrocatalytic processes of technological relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shen Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
| | - Sachinthya T Rathnayake
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
| | - Matthias M Waegele
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
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5
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Yang X, Ding H, Li S, Zheng S, Li JF, Pan F. Cation-Induced Interfacial Hydrophobic Microenvironment Promotes the C-C Coupling in Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:5532-5542. [PMID: 38362877 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) toward C2 products is a promising way for the clean energy economy. Modulating the structure of the electric double layer (EDL), especially the interfacial water and cation type, is a useful strategy to promote C-C coupling, but atomic understanding lags far behind the experimental observations. Herein, we investigate the combined effect of interfacial water and alkali metal cations on the C-C coupling at the Cu(100) electrode/electrolyte interface using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations with a constrained MD and slow-growth approach. We observe a linear correlation between the water-adsorbate stabilization effect, which manifests as hydrogen bonds, and the corresponding alleviation in the C-C coupling free energy. The role of a larger cation, compared to a smaller cation (e.g., K+ vs Li+), lies in its ability to approach the interface through desolvation and coordinates with the *CO+*CO moiety, partially substituting the hydrogen-bonding stabilizing effect of interfacial water. Although this only results in a marginal reduction of the energy barrier for C-C coupling, it creates a local hydrophobic environment with a scarcity of hydrogen bonds owing to its great ionic radius, impeding the hydrogen of surrounding interfacial water to approach the oxygen of the adsorbed *CO. This skillfully circumvents the further hydrogenation of *CO toward the C1 pathway, serving as the predominant factor through which a larger cation facilitates C-C coupling. This study unveils a comprehensive atomic mechanism of the cation-water-adsorbate interactions that can facilitate the further optimization of the electrolyte and EDL for efficient C-C coupling in CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhe Yang
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Haowen Ding
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shunning Li
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shisheng Zheng
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Jian-Feng Li
- College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, College of Physical Science and Technology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Feng Pan
- School of Advanced Materials, Peking University, Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518000, China
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6
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Banerji LC, Jang H, Gardner AM, Cowan AJ. Studying the cation dependence of CO 2 reduction intermediates at Cu by in situ VSFG spectroscopy. Chem Sci 2024; 15:2889-2897. [PMID: 38404396 PMCID: PMC10882457 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05295h] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The nature of the electrolyte cation is known to have a significant impact on electrochemical reduction of CO2 at catalyst|electrolyte interfaces. An understanding of the underlying mechanism responsible for catalytic enhancement as the alkali metal cation group is descended is key to guide catalyst development. Here, we use in situ vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy to monitor changes in the binding modes of the CO intermediate at the electrochemical interface of a polycrystalline Cu electrode during CO2 reduction as the electrolyte cation is varied. A CObridge mode is observed only when using Cs+, a cation that is known to facilitate CO2 reduction on Cu, supporting the proposed involvement of CObridge sites in CO coupling mechanisms during CO2 reduction. Ex situ measurements show that the cation dependent CObridge modes correlate with morphological changes of the Cu surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam C Banerji
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Hansaem Jang
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Adrian M Gardner
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
- Early Career Laser Laboratory, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Alexander J Cowan
- Department of Chemistry, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
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7
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Yan Z, Di Y, Wang L, Fei P, Chen S, Yue X, Wang Y, Zuo Z, Lu J, Zhao Z. Mechanistic insight into homogeneous catalytic crosslinking behavior between cellulose and epoxide by explicit solvent models. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 252:126093. [PMID: 37573910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by recent advances on functional modification of cellulosic materials, the crosslinking behaviors of epoxide with cellulose under the catalysis of different homogeneous catalysts including H2O, Brønsted acid, Brønsted base, Lewis acid and neutral salt were systematically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) methods with hybrid micro-solvation-continuum approach. The results showed that catalytic activity, reaction mechanism and regioselectivity are determined by the combined effect of catalyst type, electronic effect and steric hindrance. All the homogeneous catalysts have catalytic activity for the crosslinking reaction, which decreases in the order of NaOH > HCl > NCl3 > MCl2 > CH3COOH > NaCl (N = Fe3+, Al3+; M = Zn2+, Ca2+). Upon the catalysis of NaOH, hydroxyl group of cellulose is firstly deprotonated to form a carbanion-like intermediate which will further attack the less sterically hindered C atom of epoxide showing excellent regioselectivity. Acidic catalysts readily cause epoxide protonated, which suffers from nucleophilic attack of cellulose and forms the carbocation-like intermediate. Brønsted acid exhibits poor regioselectivity, however, Lewis acid shows an interesting balance between catalytic activity and regioselectivity for the crosslinking reaction, which may be attributed to the unique catalysis and stabilization effects of its coordinated H2O on the transition state structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Yan
- College of Textile Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China; National Advanced Functional Fiber Innovation Center, Suzhou 215228, Jiangsu, China
| | - Youbo Di
- College of Textile Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Le Wang
- College of Textile Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Pengfei Fei
- College of Textile Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Shaojie Chen
- College of Textile Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiuping Yue
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- National Advanced Functional Fiber Innovation Center, Suzhou 215228, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhijun Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Coal Science and Technology of Ministry of Education and Shanxi Province, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Jianjun Lu
- College of Textile Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Coal Science and Technology of Ministry of Education and Shanxi Province, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Zhou Zhao
- School of Textile science and engineering, Xi'an Polytechnic university, Xi'an 710048, Shaanxi, China.
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8
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Lee SY, Kim J, Bak G, Lee E, Kim D, Yoo S, Kim J, Yun H, Hwang YJ. Probing Cation Effects on *CO Intermediates from Electroreduction of CO 2 through Operando Raman Spectroscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:23068-23075. [PMID: 37807716 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Cations in an electrolyte modulate microenvironments near the catalyst surface and affect product distribution from an electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction, and thus, their interaction with intermediate states has been tried to be probed. Herein, we directly observed the cation effect on *CO intermediates on the Cu(OH)2-derived catalyst in real time through operando surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy at high overpotentials (-1.0 VRHE). Atop *CO peaks are composed of low-frequency binding *CO (*COLFB) and high-frequency binding *CO (*COHFB) because of their adsorption sites. These two *CO intermediates are found to have different sensitivities to the cation-induced field, and each *CO is proposed to be suitably stabilized for efficient C-C coupling. The proportions between *COHFB and *COLFB are dependent on the type of alkali cations, and the increases in the *COHFB ratio have a high correlation with selective C2H4 production under K+ and Cs+, indicating that *COHFB is the dominant and fast active species. In addition, as the hydrated cation size decreases, *COLFB is more sensitively red-shifted than *COHFB, which promotes C-C coupling and suppresses C1 products. Through time-resolved operando measurements, dynamic changes between the two *CO species are observed, showing the rapid initial adsorption of *COHFB and subsequently reaching a steady ratio between *COLFB and *COHFB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Young Lee
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jimin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwangsu Bak
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunchong Lee
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dayeon Kim
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Suhwan Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwon Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Yun
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Jeong Hwang
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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9
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Ni W, Guan Y, Chen H, Zhang Y, Wang S, Zhang S. Molecular Engineering of Cation Solvation Structure for Highly Selective Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303233. [PMID: 37507348 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Balancing the activation of H2 O is crucial for highly selective CO2 electroreduction (CO2 RR), as the protonation steps of CO2 RR require fast H2 O dissociation kinetics, while suppressing hydrogen evolution (HER) demands slow H2 O reduction. We herein proposed one molecular engineering strategy to regulate the H2 O activation using aprotic organic small molecules with high Gutmann donor number as a solvation shell regulator. These organic molecules occupy the first solvation shell of K+ and accumulate in the electrical double layer, decreasing the H2 O density at the interface and the relative content of proton suppliers (free and coordinated H2 O), suppressing the HER. The adsorbed H2 O was stabilized via the second sphere effect and its dissociation was promoted by weakening the O-H bond, which accelerates the subsequent *CO2 protonation kinetics and reduces the energy barrier. In the model electrolyte containing 5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an additive (KCl-DMSO-5), the highest CO selectivity over Ag foil increased to 99.2 %, with FECO higher than 90.0 % within -0.75 to -1.15 V (vs. RHE). This molecular engineering strategy for cation solvation shell can be extended to other metal electrodes, such as Zn and Sn, and organic molecules like N,N-dimethylformamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenpeng Ni
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
| | - Yongji Guan
- Institute of Optoelectronics and Electromagnetic Information, School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Houjun Chen
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
| | - Shuangyin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chem/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, Advanced Catalytic Engineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Shiguo Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410004, China
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10
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Deng GH, Zhu Q, Rebstock J, Neves-Garcia T, Baker LR. Direct observation of bicarbonate and water reduction on gold: understanding the potential dependent proton source during hydrogen evolution. Chem Sci 2023; 14:4523-4531. [PMID: 37152268 PMCID: PMC10155912 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc00897e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The electrochemical conversion of CO2 represents a promising way to simultaneously reduce CO2 emissions and store chemical energy. However, the competition between CO2 reduction (CO2R) and the H2 evolution reaction (HER) hinders the efficient conversion of CO2 in aqueous solution. In water, CO2 is in dynamic equilibrium with H2CO3, HCO3 -, and CO3 2-. While CO2 and its associated carbonate species represent carbon sources for CO2R, recent studies by Koper and co-workers indicate that H2CO3 and HCO3 - also act as proton sources during HER (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 4154-4161, ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 4936-4945, J. Catal. 2022, 405, 346-354), which can favorably compete with water at certain potentials. However, accurately distinguishing between competing reaction mechanisms as a function of potential requires direct observation of the non-equilibrium product distribution present at the electrode/electrolyte interface. In this study, we employ vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy to directly probe the interfacial species produced during competing HER/CO2R on Au electrodes. The vibrational spectra at the Ar-purged Na2SO4 solution/Au interface, where only HER occurs, show a strong peak around 3650 cm-1, which appears at the HER onset potential and is assigned to OH-. Notably, this species is absent for the CO2-purged Na2SO4 solution/gold interface; instead, a peak around 3400 cm-1 appears at catalytic potential, which is assigned to CO3 2- in the electrochemical double layer. These spectral reporters allow us to differentiate between HER mechanisms based on water reduction (OH- product) and HCO3 - reduction (CO3 2- product). Monitoring the relative intensities of these features as a function of potential in NaHCO3 electrolyte reveals that the proton donor switches from HCO3 - at low overpotential to H2O at higher overpotential. This work represents the first direct detection of OH- on a metal electrode produced during HER and provides important insights into the surface reactions that mediate selectivity between HER and CO2R in aqueous solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang-Hua Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Information Photonic and Optical Communications and School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) Beijing 100876 P. R. China
| | - Quansong Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
| | - Jaclyn Rebstock
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
| | - Tomaz Neves-Garcia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
| | - L Robert Baker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
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11
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Li XY, Wang T, Cai YC, Meng ZD, Nan JW, Ye JY, Yi J, Zhan DP, Tian N, Zhou ZY, Sun SG. Mechanism of Cations Suppressing Proton Diffusion Kinetics for Electrocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202218669. [PMID: 36762956 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Proton transfer is crucial for electrocatalysis. Accumulating cations at electrochemical interfaces can alter the proton transfer rate and then tune electrocatalytic performance. However, the mechanism for regulating proton transfer remains ambiguous. Here, we quantify the cation effect on proton diffusion in solution by hydrogen evolution on microelectrodes, revealing the rate can be suppressed by more than 10 times. Different from the prevalent opinions that proton transport is slowed down by modified electric field, we found water structure imposes a more evident effect on kinetics. FTIR test and path integral molecular dynamics simulation indicate that proton prefers to wander within the hydration shell of cations rather than to hop rapidly along water wires. Low connectivity of water networks disrupted by cations corrupts the fast-moving path in bulk water. This study highlights the promising way for regulating proton kinetics via a modified water structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Chen Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Zhao-Dong Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Wen Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jin-Yu Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jun Yi
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Dong-Ping Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Na Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-You Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Shi-Gang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
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12
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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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