1
|
Higashi T, Seki K, Nandal V, Pihosh Y, Nakabayashi M, Shibata N, Domen K. Understanding the Activation Mechanism of RhCrO x Cocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution with Nanoparticulate Electrodes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:26325-26339. [PMID: 38716494 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c04841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
Mixed oxides of Rh-Cr (RhCrOx), containing Rh3+ and Cr3+ cations, are commonly used as cocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on particulate photocatalysts. The precise physicochemical mechanisms of the HER at the catalytic sites of these oxides are not well understood. In this study, model cocatalyst electrodes, composed of nanoparticulate RhCrOx, were fabricated to investigate the physicochemical mechanisms of the HER. Electroanalytical and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements revealed that nanoparticulate RhCrOx produces reduced Rh (Rh0) species by maintaining an electrode potential more negative than 0.03 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE). This results in significant enhancement of the HER activity. The catalytic activity for the HER stems from the reduced Rh species, and the inclusion of Cr3+ (CrOx) aided in the electron transfer process at the solid/liquid interface, resulting in a higher current density during the HER. To achieve a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of over 3%, the conduction band minimum of the particulate photocatalyst should be positioned more negatively than -0.10 VRHE. Moreover, the formation of electron trap states at potentials more positive than 0.03 VRHE should be avoided. This study highlights the importance of understanding the catalytic sites on metal oxide cocatalysts. Moreover, it offers a design strategy for enhancing the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Higashi
- Institute for Tenure Track Promotion, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-Kibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Seki
- Global Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan
| | - Vikas Nandal
- Global Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan
| | - Yuriy Pihosh
- Office of University Professors, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Mamiko Nakabayashi
- Institute of Engineering Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Naoya Shibata
- Institute of Engineering Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kazunari Domen
- Office of University Professors, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Research Initiative for Supra-Materials (RISM), Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano 380-8533, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Higashi T, Seki K, Sasaki Y, Pihosh Y, Nandal V, Nakabayashi M, Shibata N, Domen K. Mechanistic Insights into Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution of CrO x /Rh Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Water Splitting. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202204058. [PMID: 36764932 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202204058] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of Rh nanoparticles (RhNP) coated with an ultrathin layer of Cr-oxides (CrOx ) was investigated as a model electrode for the Cr2 O3 /Rh-metal core-shell-type cocatalyst system for photocatalytic water splitting. The CrOx layer was electrodeposited over RhNP on a transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. The CrOx layer on RhNP facilitates the electron transfer process at the CrOx /RhNP interface, leading to the increased current density for the HER. Impedance spectroscopic analysis revealed that the CrOx layer transferred protons via the hopping mechanism to the RhNP surface for HER. In addition, CrOx restricted electron transfer from the FTO to the electrolyte and/or RhNP and suppressed the backward reaction by limiting oxygen migration. This study clarifies the crucial role of the ultrathin CrOx layer on nanoparticulate cocatalysts and provides a cocatalyst design strategy for realizing efficient photocatalytic water splitting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Higashi
- Institute for Tenure Track Promotion, University of Miyazaki, Nishi 1-1 Gakuen-Kibanadai, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Seki
- Global Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 16-1 Onogawa, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Yutaka Sasaki
- Office of University Professors, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yuriy Pihosh
- Office of University Professors, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Vikas Nandal
- Global Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 16-1 Onogawa, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Mamiko Nakabayashi
- Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Naoya Shibata
- Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kazunari Domen
- Office of University Professors, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
- Research Initiative for Supra-Materials (RISM), Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano, 380-8533, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu Q, Qin W, Yan Z, Gao J, Wang E. Porous Ni(OH)2 permselective membrane to identify the mechanism of hydrogen evolution reaction in buffered solution. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.139444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
4
|
Govindarajan N, Kastlunger G, Heenen HH, Chan K. Improving the intrinsic activity of electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion: where are we and where can we go? Chem Sci 2021; 13:14-26. [PMID: 35059146 PMCID: PMC8694373 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc04775b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As we are in the midst of a climate crisis, there is an urgent need to transition to the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. A promising strategy towards this transition is to use renewable energy for the electrochemical conversion of abundant molecules present in the earth's atmosphere such as H2O, O2, N2 and CO2, to synthetic fuels and chemicals. A cornerstone to this strategy is the development of earth abundant electrocatalysts with high intrinsic activity towards the desired products. In this perspective, we discuss the importance and challenges involved in the estimation of intrinsic activity both from the experimental and theoretical front. Through a thorough analysis of published data, we find that only modest improvements in intrinsic activity of electrocatalysts have been achieved in the past two decades which necessitates the need for a paradigm shift in electrocatalyst design. To this end, we highlight opportunities offered by tuning three components of the electrochemical environment: cations, buffering anions and the electrolyte pH. These components can significantly alter catalytic activity as demonstrated using several examples, and bring us a step closer towards complete system level optimization of electrochemical routes to sustainable energy conversion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nitish Govindarajan
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Fysikvej 311 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Fysikvej 311 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
| | - Hendrik H Heenen
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Fysikvej 311 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark .,Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Faradayweg 4-6 D-14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Karen Chan
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Fysikvej 311 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kracke F, Deutzmann JS, Jayathilake BS, Pang SH, Chandrasekaran S, Baker SE, Spormann AM. Efficient Hydrogen Delivery for Microbial Electrosynthesis via 3D-Printed Cathodes. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:696473. [PMID: 34413839 PMCID: PMC8369483 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.696473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficient delivery of electrochemically in situ produced H2 can be a key advantage of microbial electrosynthesis over traditional gas fermentation. However, the technical details of how to supply large amounts of electric current per volume in a biocompatible manner remain unresolved. Here, we explored for the first time the flexibility of complex 3D-printed custom electrodes to fine tune H2 delivery during microbial electrosynthesis. Using a model system for H2-mediated electromethanogenesis comprised of 3D fabricated carbon aerogel cathodes plated with nickel-molybdenum and Methanococcus maripaludis, we showed that novel 3D-printed cathodes facilitated sustained and efficient electromethanogenesis from electricity and CO2 at an unprecedented volumetric production rate of 2.2 LCH4 /Lcatholyte/day and at a coulombic efficiency of 99%. Importantly, our experiments revealed that the efficiency of this process strongly depends on the current density. At identical total current supplied, larger surface area cathodes enabled higher methane production and minimized escape of H2. Specifically, low current density (<1 mA/cm2) enabled by high surface area cathodes was found to be critical for fast start-up times of the microbial culture, stable steady state performance, and high coulombic efficiencies. Our data demonstrate that 3D-printing of electrodes presents a promising design tool to mitigate effects of bubble formation and local pH gradients within the boundary layer and, thus, resolve key critical limitations for in situ electron delivery in microbial electrosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Kracke
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jörg S Deutzmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Buddhinie S Jayathilake
- Materials Science Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Simon H Pang
- Materials Science Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Swetha Chandrasekaran
- Materials Science Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Sarah E Baker
- Materials Science Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Alfred M Spormann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Clary KE, Karayilan M, McCleary-Petersen KC, Petersen HA, Glass RS, Pyun J, Lichtenberger DL. Increasing the rate of the hydrogen evolution reaction in neutral water with protic buffer electrolytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:32947-32953. [PMID: 33310905 PMCID: PMC7777250 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012085117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrocatalytic generation of H2 is challenging in neutral pH water, where high catalytic currents for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are particularly sensitive to the proton source and solution characteristics. A tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) solution at pH 7 with a [2Fe-2S]-metallopolymer electrocatalyst gave catalytic current densities around two orders of magnitude greater than either a more conventional sodium phosphate solution or a potassium chloride (KCl) electrolyte solution. For a planar polycrystalline Pt disk electrode, a TRIS solution at pH 7 increased the catalytic current densities for H2 generation by 50 mA/cm2 at current densities over 100 mA/cm2 compared to a sodium phosphate solution. As a special feature of this study, TRIS is acting not only as the primary source of protons and the buffer of the pH, but the protonated TRIS ([TRIS-H]+) is also the sole cation of the electrolyte. A species that is simultaneously the proton source, buffer, and sole electrolyte is termed a protic buffer electrolyte (PBE). The structure-activity relationships of the TRIS PBE that increase the HER rate of the metallopolymer and platinum catalysts are discussed. These results suggest that appropriately designed PBEs can improve HER rates of any homogeneous or heterogeneous electrocatalyst system. General guidelines for selecting a PBE to improve the catalytic current density of HER systems are offered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayla E. Clary
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | - Metin Karayilan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | | | - Haley A. Petersen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | - Richard S. Glass
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | - Jeffrey Pyun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Program for Chemical Convergence for Energy and Environment and the Center for Intelligent Hybrids, Seoul National University, 151-744 Seoul, Korea
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Naito T, Shinagawa T, Nishimoto T, Takanabe K. Water Electrolysis in Saturated Phosphate Buffer at Neutral pH. CHEMSUSCHEM 2020; 13:5921-5933. [PMID: 32875653 PMCID: PMC7756658 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202001886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen production from renewable energy and ubiquitous water has a potential to achieve sustainability, although current water electrolyzers cannot compete economically with the fossil fuel-based technology. Here, we evaluate water electrolysis at pH 7 that is milder than acidic and alkaline pH counterparts and may overcome this issue. The physicochemical properties of concentrated buffer electrolytes were assessed at various temperatures and molalities for quantitative determination of losses associated with mass-transport during the water electrolysis. Subsequently, in saturated K-phosphate solutions at 80 °C and 100 °C that were found to be optimal to minimize the losses originating from mass-transport at the neutral pH, the water electrolysis performance over model electrodes of IrOx and Pt as an anode and a cathode, respectively, was reasonably comparable with those of the extreme pH. Remarkably, this concentrated buffer solution also achieved enhanced stability, adding another merit of this electrolyte for water electrolysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Naito
- Department of ChemicalSystem Engineering, School of EngineeringThe University of Tokyo7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-kuTokyoJapan
| | - Tatsuya Shinagawa
- Department of ChemicalSystem Engineering, School of EngineeringThe University of Tokyo7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-kuTokyoJapan
| | - Takeshi Nishimoto
- Department of ChemicalSystem Engineering, School of EngineeringThe University of Tokyo7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-kuTokyoJapan
| | - Kazuhiro Takanabe
- Department of ChemicalSystem Engineering, School of EngineeringThe University of Tokyo7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-kuTokyoJapan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Qiao S, Liu J, Kawi S. Editorial: Electrocatalysis ‐ From Batteries to Clean Energy Conversion. ChemCatChem 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201902214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shizhang Qiao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced MaterialsThe University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Jian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of Sciences Dalian 116023, Dalian P.R. China
- DICP-Surrey Joint Centre for Future MaterialsDepartment of Chemical and Process EngineeringUniversity of Surrey, Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH UK
| | - Sibudjing Kawi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringNational University of Singapore Singapore 117582 Singapore
| |
Collapse
|