1
|
Weitzner SE, Akhade SA, Kashi AR, Qi Z, Buckley AK, Huo Z, Ma S, Biener M, Wood BC, Kuhl KP, Varley JB, Biener J. Evaluating the stability and activity of dilute Cu-based alloys for electrochemical CO 2 reduction. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:114702. [PMID: 34551531 DOI: 10.1063/5.0067700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cu-based catalysts currently offer the most promising route to actively and selectively produce value-added chemicals via electrochemical reduction of CO2 (eCO2R); yet further improvements are required for their wide-scale deployment in carbon mitigation efforts. Here, we systematically investigate a family of dilute Cu-based alloys to explore their viability as active and selective catalysts for eCO2R through a combined theoretical-experimental approach. Using a quantum-classical modeling approach that accounts for dynamic solvation effects, we assess the stability and activity of model single-atom catalysts under eCO2R conditions. Our calculations identify that the presence of eCO2R intermediates, such as CO*, H*, and OH*, may dynamically influence the local catalyst surface composition. Additionally, we identify through binding energy descriptors of the CO*, CHO*, and OCCO* dimer intermediates that certain elements, such as group 13 elements (B, Al, and Ga), enhance the selectivity of C2+ species relative to pure Cu by facilitating CO dimerization. The theoretical work is corroborated by preliminary testing of eCO2R activity and selectivity of candidate dilute Cu-based alloy catalyst films prepared by electron beam evaporation in a zero-gap gas diffusion electrode-based reactor. Of all studied alloys, dilute CuAl was found to be the most active and selective toward C2+ products like ethylene, consistent with the theoretical predictions. We attribute the improved performance of dilute CuAl alloys to more favorable dimerization reaction energetics of bound CO species relative to that on pure Cu. In a broader context, the results presented here demonstrate the power of our simulation framework in terms of rational catalyst design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen E Weitzner
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Sneha A Akhade
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Ajay R Kashi
- Opus 12 Incorporated, 614 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California 94710, USA
| | - Zhen Qi
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Aya K Buckley
- Opus 12 Incorporated, 614 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California 94710, USA
| | - Ziyang Huo
- Opus 12 Incorporated, 614 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California 94710, USA
| | - Sichao Ma
- Opus 12 Incorporated, 614 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California 94710, USA
| | - Monika Biener
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Brandon C Wood
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Kendra P Kuhl
- Opus 12 Incorporated, 614 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California 94710, USA
| | - Joel B Varley
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - Juergen Biener
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Campbell Q, Dabo I. Electrochemical stability and light-harvesting ability of silicon photoelectrodes in aqueous environments. J Chem Phys 2019; 151:044109. [PMID: 31370555 DOI: 10.1063/1.5093810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We study the factors that affect the photoactivity of silicon electrodes for the water-splitting reaction using a self-consistent continuum solvation model of the solid-liquid interface. This model allows us to calculate the charge-voltage response, Schottky barriers, and surface stability of different terminations while accounting for the interactions between the charge-pinning centers at the surface and the depletion region of the semiconductor. We predict that the most stable oxidized surface does not have a favorable Schottky barrier, which further explains the low solar-to-hydrogen performance of passivated silicon electrodes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quinn Campbell
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Research Institute, and Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Ismaila Dabo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Research Institute, and Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lian T, Koper MTM, Reuter K, Subotnik JE. Special Topic on Interfacial Electrochemistry and Photo(electro)catalysis. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:041401. [PMID: 30709260 DOI: 10.1063/1.5088351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Interfacial electrochemistry and photo(electro)catalysis are key processes that convert the energy of photons or electrons to chemical bonds in many energy conversion and storage technologies. Achieving a molecular level understanding of the fundamental interfacial structure, energetics, dynamics, and reaction mechanisms that govern these processes represents a broad frontier for chemical physics and physical chemistry. This Special Topic contains a collection of articles that range from the development of new experimental and computational techniques to the novel application of those techniques for mechanistic studies, as the principal investigators seek a fundamental molecular understanding of both electrode/electrolyte interfaces and the relevant electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrochemical reactions taking place thereabout. Altogether, this collection of articles captures the current state of this very active, frontier research field and highlights the current and remaining key scientific challenges and opportunities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianquan Lian
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Marc T M Koper
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karsten Reuter
- Chair for Theoretical Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Joseph E Subotnik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|