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Jones TE, Teschner D, Piccinin S. Toward Realistic Models of the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction. Chem Rev 2024; 124:9136-9223. [PMID: 39038270 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) supplies the protons and electrons needed to transform renewable electricity into chemicals and fuels. However, the OER is kinetically sluggish; it operates at significant rates only when the applied potential far exceeds the reversible voltage. The origin of this overpotential is hidden in a complex mechanism involving multiple electron transfers and chemical bond making/breaking steps. Our desire to improve catalytic performance has then made mechanistic studies of the OER an area of major scientific inquiry, though the complexity of the reaction has made understanding difficult. While historically, mechanistic studies have relied solely on experiment and phenomenological models, over the past twenty years ab initio simulation has been playing an increasingly important role in developing our understanding of the electrocatalytic OER and its reaction mechanisms. In this Review we cover advances in our mechanistic understanding of the OER, organized by increasing complexity in the way through which the OER is modeled. We begin with phenomenological models built using experimental data before reviewing early efforts to incorporate ab initio methods into mechanistic studies. We go on to cover how the assumptions in these early ab initio simulations─no electric field, electrolyte, or explicit kinetics─have been relaxed. Through comparison with experimental literature, we explore the veracity of these different assumptions. We summarize by discussing the most critical open challenges in developing models to understand the mechanisms of the OER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis E Jones
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Society, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Detre Teschner
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Society, Berlin 14195, Germany
- Department of Heterogeneous Reactions, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr 45470, Germany
| | - Simone Piccinin
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Officina dei Materiali, Trieste 34136, Italy
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2
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Mercer MP, Bhandari A, Peng C, Dziedzic J, Skylaris CK, Kramer D. Tuning the work function of graphite nanoparticles via edge termination. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:16175-16183. [PMID: 38804017 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01079e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Graphite nanoparticles are important in energy materials applications such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), supercapacitors and as catalyst supports. Tuning the work function of the nanoparticles allows local control of lithiation behaviour in LIBs, and the potential of zero charge of electrocatalysts and supercapacitors. Using large scale density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we find that the surface termination of multilayer graphene nanoparticles can substantially modify the work function. Calculations in vacuum and in electrolyte show that manipulating the edge termination substantially modifies the potential not only around the edge, but also on the basal plane. Termination with hydrogen or oxygen completely reverses the potential distribution surrounding the basal plane and edges. The trends can be explained based on the work function differences of the edges dependent on termination, and that of the basal plane. Electronic equilibration between different surfaces at the nanoscale allows manipulation of the work function. We demonstrate a link between the area of the graphite basal plane via changing the nanoparticle size, and the work function. We expect that these insights can be utilised for local control of electrochemical functions of graphite nanoparticles prepared under oxidising or reducing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Mercer
- Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK.
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Helmut-Schmidt University, Holstenhofweg 85, 22043 Hamburg, Germany
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Arihant Bhandari
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Chao Peng
- Multiscale Crystal Materials Research Center, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jacek Dziedzic
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
- Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk 80-233, Poland
| | - Chris K Skylaris
- The Faraday Institution, Quad One, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Denis Kramer
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Helmut-Schmidt University, Holstenhofweg 85, 22043 Hamburg, Germany
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3
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Beinlich SD, Kastlunger G, Reuter K, Hörmann NG. Controlled Electrochemical Barrier Calculations without Potential Control. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:8323-8331. [PMID: 37933878 PMCID: PMC10688182 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00836] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge of electrochemical activation energies under applied potential conditions is a prerequisite for understanding catalytic activity at electrochemical interfaces. Here, we present a new set of methods that can compute electrochemical barriers with accuracy comparable to that of constant potential grand canonical approaches, without the explicit need for a potentiostat. Instead, we Legendre transform a set of constant charge, canonical reaction paths. Additional straightforward approximations offer the possibility to compute electrochemical barriers at a fraction of computational cost and complexity, and the analytical inclusion of geometric response highlights the importance of incorporating electronic as well as the geometric degrees of freedom when evaluating electrochemical barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon D. Beinlich
- Fritz-Haber-Institut
der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Technical
University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Technical
University of Denmark, Fysikvej 311, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karsten Reuter
- Fritz-Haber-Institut
der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicolas G. Hörmann
- Fritz-Haber-Institut
der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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4
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An Y, Cao W, Ouyang M, Chen S, Wang G, Chen X. Substantial impact of surface charges on electrochemical reaction kinetics on S vacancies of MoS2 using grand-canonical iteration method. J Chem Phys 2023; 159:144702. [PMID: 37811830 DOI: 10.1063/5.0153358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The surface charges of catalysts have intricate influences on the thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemical reactions. Herein, we develop a grand-canonical iteration method based on density functional theory calculations to explore the effect of surface charges on reaction kinetics beyond the traditional Butler-Volmer picture. Using the hydrogen evolution reaction on S vacancies of MoS2 as an example, we show how to track the change of surface charge in a reaction and to analyze its influence on the kinetics. Protons adsorb on S vacancies in a tough and charge-insensitive water splitting manner, which explains the observed large Tafel slope. Grand-canonical calculations report an unanticipated surface charge-induced change of the desorption pathway from the Heyrovsky route to a Volmer-Tafel route. During an electrochemical reaction, a net electron inflow into the catalyst may bring two effects, i.e., stabilization of the canonical energy and destabilization of the charge-dependent grand-canonical part. On the contrary, a net outflow of electrons from the catalyst can reverse the two effects. This surface charge effect has substantial impacts on the overpotential and the Tafel slope. We suggest that the surface charge effect is universal for all electrochemical reactions and significant for those involving interfacial proton transfers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi An
- Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Department of Physics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Department of Physics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Min Ouyang
- Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Department of Physics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Shiqi Chen
- Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Department of Physics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Guangjin Wang
- School of Materials Science and Hydrogen Energy, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA
| | - Xiaobo Chen
- Siyuan Laboratory, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials, Department of Physics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
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5
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Wu J. Understanding the Electric Double-Layer Structure, Capacitance, and Charging Dynamics. Chem Rev 2022; 122:10821-10859. [PMID: 35594506 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in recent years in theoretical modeling of the electric double layer (EDL), a key concept in electrochemistry important for energy storage, electrocatalysis, and multitudes of other technological applications. However, major challenges remain in understanding the microscopic details of the electrochemical interface and charging mechanisms under realistic conditions. This review delves into theoretical methods to describe the equilibrium and dynamic responses of the EDL structure and capacitance for electrochemical systems commonly deployed for capacitive energy storage. Special emphasis is given to recent advances that intend to capture the nonclassical EDL behavior such as oscillatory ion distributions, polarization of nonmetallic electrodes, charge transfer, and various forms of phase transitions in the micropores of electrodes interfacing with an organic electrolyte or ionic liquid. This comprehensive analysis highlights theoretical insights into predictable relationships between materials characteristics and electrochemical performance and offers a perspective on opportunities for further development toward rational design and optimization of electrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Wu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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Bramley GA, Nguyen MT, Glezakou VA, Rousseau R, Skylaris CK. Understanding Adsorption of Organics on Pt(111) in the Aqueous Phase: Insights from DFT Based Implicit Solvent and Statistical Thermodynamics Models. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:1849-1861. [PMID: 35099965 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adsorption of organics in the aqueous phase is an area which is experimentally difficult to measure, while computational techniques require extensive configurational sampling of the solvent and adsorbate. This is exceedingly computationally demanding, which excludes its routine use. If implicit solvent could be applied instead, this would dramatically reduce the computational cost as configurational sampling of solvent is not needed. Here, using statistical thermodynamic arguments and DFT calculations with implicit solvent models, we show that semiquantitative values for the free energy and entropy change of adsorption in the aqueous phase (ΔGadssolv and ΔSadssolv) for small organics can be calculated, for a range of coverages. We parametrize the soft sphere based solute dielectric cavity to an approximated free energy of solvation for a single Pt atom at the (111) facet, forming upper and lower bounds based on the entropy of water at the aqueous metal interface (ΔGsolv(Pt) = -4.35 to -7.18 kJ mol-1). This captures the decrease in ΔGadssolv compared to the free energy of adsorption in the vacuum phase (ΔGadsvac), while solvent models with electron density based cavities fail to do so. For a range of oxygenated aromatics, the adsorption energetics using horizontal gas phase geometries significantly overestimate ΔGadssolv compared to experiment by ∼100 kJ mol-1, but they agree with ab initio MD simulations using similar geometries. This suggests oxygenated aromatic compounds adsorb perpendicular to the metallic surface, while the ΔGadssolv for vertical geometries of furfural and cyclohexanol agree to within 20 kJ mol-1 of experimental studies. The proposed techniques provide an inexpensive toolset for validation and prediction of adsorption energetics on solvated metallic surfaces, which could be further validated by the future availability of more experimental measurements for the aqueous entropy/free energy of adsorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Bramley
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Manh-Thuong Nguyen
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | | | - Roger Rousseau
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
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7
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Ringe S, Hörmann NG, Oberhofer H, Reuter K. Implicit Solvation Methods for Catalysis at Electrified Interfaces. Chem Rev 2021; 122:10777-10820. [PMID: 34928131 PMCID: PMC9227731 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Implicit solvation
is an effective, highly coarse-grained approach
in atomic-scale simulations to account for a surrounding liquid electrolyte
on the level of a continuous polarizable medium. Originating in molecular
chemistry with finite solutes, implicit solvation techniques are now
increasingly used in the context of first-principles modeling of electrochemistry
and electrocatalysis at extended (often metallic) electrodes. The
prevalent ansatz to model the latter electrodes and the reactive surface
chemistry at them through slabs in periodic boundary condition supercells
brings its specific challenges. Foremost this concerns the difficulty
of describing the entire double layer forming at the electrified solid–liquid
interface (SLI) within supercell sizes tractable by commonly employed
density functional theory (DFT). We review liquid solvation methodology
from this specific application angle, highlighting in particular its
use in the widespread ab initio thermodynamics approach
to surface catalysis. Notably, implicit solvation can be employed
to mimic a polarization of the electrode’s electronic density
under the applied potential and the concomitant capacitive charging
of the entire double layer beyond the limitations of the employed
DFT supercell. Most critical for continuing advances of this effective
methodology for the SLI context is the lack of pertinent (experimental
or high-level theoretical) reference data needed for parametrization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Ringe
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea.,Energy Science & Engineering Research Center, Daegu Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Nicolas G Hörmann
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.,Chair for Theoretical Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstraße 4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Harald Oberhofer
- Chair for Theoretical Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstraße 4, D-85747 Garching, Germany.,Chair for Theoretical Physics VII and Bavarian Center for Battery Technology (BayBatt), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Karsten Reuter
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
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