Structure and inhibition effects of anion adlayers during the course of O2 reduction

Electrocatalysis: From Planar Surfaces to Nanostructured Interfaces

The reactions critical for the energy transition center on the chemistry of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and the heterogeneous catalyst surfaces that make up electrochemical energy conversion systems. Together, the surface-adsorbate interactions constitute the electrochemical interphase and define reaction kinetics of many clean energy technologies. Practical devices introduce high levels of complexity where surface roughness, structure, composition, and morphology combine with electrolyte, pH, diffusion, and system level limitations to challenge our ability to deconvolute underlying phenomena. To make significant strides in materials design, a structured approach based on well-defined surfaces is necessary to selectively control distinct parameters, while complexity is added sequentially through careful application of nanostructured surfaces. In this review, we cover advances made through this approach for key elements in the field, beginning with the simplest hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions and concluding with more complex organic molecules. In each case, we offer a unique perspective on the contribution of well-defined systems to our understanding of electrochemical energy conversion technologies and how wider deployment can aid intelligent materials design.

The Effect of Anions and pH on the Activity and Selectivity of an Annealed Polycrystalline Au Film Electrode in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction-Revisited

Aiming at a better understanding of correlations between the activity and selectivity of Au electrodes in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under controlled transport conditions, we have investigated this reaction by combined electrochemical and in situ FTIR measurements, performed in a flow cell set‐up in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration in acid and alkaline electrolytes. The formation of incomplete reduction products (hydrogen peroxyde/peroxyls) was detected by a collector electrode, the onset of OH_ad formation was probed by bulk CO oxidation. Using an electroless‐deposited, annealed Au film on a Si prism as working electrode and three different electrolytes for comparison (sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, sodium hydroxide solution), we could derive detailed information on the anion adsorption behavior, and could correlate this with the ORR characteristics. The data reveal pronounced effects of the anions and the pH on the ORR characteristics, indicated e. g., by a grossly different activity and selectivity for the 4‐electron pathway to water/hydroxyls, with the onset ranging from ca. 1.0 V in alkaline electrolyte to 0.6 V in sulfuric acid electrolyte, and the selectivity for the 4‐electron pathway ranging from 100 % (alkaline electrolyte, low overpotentials) to 40 % (acidic electrolytes, alkaline electrolyte at high overpotentials). In contrast, the effect of the ORR on the anion adsorption characteristics is small. Anion effects as well as correlations between anion adsorption and ORR are discussed.

Electrochemical Dealloying-Assisted Surface-Engineered Pd-Based Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Formic Acid Oxidation and Oxygen Reduction

Synthesis of non-Pt bifunctional electrocatalyst for the anodic oxidation of liquid fuel and cathodic reduction of oxygen is of great interest in the development of energy conversion devices. We demonstrate a facile room-temperature synthesis of surface-engineered trimetallic alloy nanoelectrocatalyst based on Co, Cu, and Pd by thermodynamically favorable transmetallation reaction and electrochemical dealloying. The quasi-spherical Co _xCu _yPd _z trimetallic catalysts were synthesized by the thermodynamically favorable reaction of K₂PdCl₄ with sheetlike Co _mCu _n bimetallic alloy nanostructure. The surface engineering of Co _xCu _yPd _z was achieved by electrochemical dealloying. The surface-engineered alloy electrocatalyst exhibits excellent bifunctional activity toward formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at same pH. The elemental composition and lattice strain control the electrocatalytic performance. The elemental composition-dependent compressive strain weakens the adsorption of oxygen-containing species and favors the facile electron transfer for FAOR and ORR. The engineered alloy electrocatalyst of Co_0.02Cu_13.8Pd_86.18 composition is highly durable and delivers high mass-specific activity for ORR and FAOR. It delivers mass-specific activities of 1.50 and 0.202 A/mg_Pd for FAOR and ORR, respectively, in acidic pH. The overall performance is superior to that of as-synthesized Pd and dealloyed bimetallic Co_2.7Pd_97.3 and Cu_5.61Pd_94.39 nanoelectrocatalysts.

Effects of Sulfate on the Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity on Stabilized Pt Skin/PtCo Alloy Catalysts from 30 to 80 °C

The effects of the concentration of H₂SO₄ ([H₂SO₄]), which is the major decomposition product of polymer electrolyte membranes during the operation of fuel cells, on the performance of stabilized Pt skin/PtCo alloy nanocatalysts supported on high-surface-area carbon (Pt_xAL-PtCo/C) were investigated. Kinetically controlled activities for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the H₂O₂ yields ( P(H₂O₂)) on the Pt_xAL-PtCo/C were examined based on hydrodynamic voltammograms in O₂-saturated 0.1 M HClO₄ + X M H₂SO₄ ( X = 0 to 5 × 10^-2) by use of the channel flow double electrode method at temperatures between 30 and 80 °C. At X ≤ 10^-6 (1 μM) and all temperatures examined, the apparent ORR rate constants k_app@0.85 V (per unit electrochemically active surface area) on Pt_xAL-PtCo/C at 0.85 V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) were nearly identical with those in sulfate-free 0.1 M HClO₄ and were at least twice as high as those on a commercial Pt/C catalyst (c-Pt/C). The values of k_app@0.85 V on both Pt_xAL-PtCo/C and c-Pt/C decreased linearly with log[H₂SO₄] in the concentration range 10^-6 < X ≤ 5 × 10^-2. The detrimental effect by H₂SO₄ was less pronounced on Pt_xAL-PtCo/C than on c-Pt/C at high temperatures; the k_app@0.85 V value at X = 5 × 10^-2 on the former at 80 °C was maintained as high as 87%, whereas that of the latter was 66% (34% loss). The values of peroxide production percentage P(H₂O₂) on Pt_xAL-PtCo/C at 80 °C were nearly constant (ca. 0.22% at 0.76 V vs RHE) up to X = 5 × 10^-2. These superior characteristics are ascribed to weakened adsorption of sulfate on the Pt skin surface, supported by DFT calculations, which provides the great advantage of robustness in the presence of impurities, maintaining active sites for the ORR during the PEFC operation.

The Many "Facets" of Halide Ions in the Chemistry of Colloidal Inorganic Nanocrystals

Over the years, scientists have identified various synthetic "handles" while developing wet chemical protocols for achieving a high level of shape and compositional complexity in colloidal nanomaterials. Halide ions have emerged as one such handle which serve as important surface active species that regulate nanocrystal (NC) growth and concomitant physicochemical properties. Halide ions affect the NC growth kinetics through several means, including selective binding on crystal facets, complexation with the precursors, and oxidative etching. On the other hand, their presence on the surfaces of semiconducting NCs stimulates interesting changes in the intrinsic electronic structure and interparticle communication in the NC solids eventually assembled from them. Then again, halide ions also induce optoelectronic tunability in NCs where they form part of the core, through sheer composition variation. In this review, we describe these roles of halide ions in the growth of nanostructures and the physical changes introduced by them and thereafter demonstrate the commonality of these effects across different classes of nanomaterials.

Cathodic Detection of H2O2 Using Iodide-Modified Gold Electrode in Alkaline Media

Oxidative chemisorption and cathodic stripping reductive desorption of iodide have been studied at a smooth polycrystalline gold (Au (poly)) electrode. Potential-dependent surface coverage of iodide has been controlled on the basis of its reductive desoprtion in 0.1 M KOH alkaline media and its quantitative oxidation to aqueous iodates in acidic media. The Au (poly) electrode surface catalyzes the decomposition of H2O2 to O2. Specific adsorption of iodide on the Au electrode inhibits fully the catalytic decomposition and electrochemical oxidation of H2O2 as well as the adsorption of unknown impurities and the oxidative degradation of the electrode surface by H2O2. A quantitative characterization/detection of H2O2 at the iodide-modified Au (poly) electrode in the alkaline media has, thus, been achieved. Performance of the electrode toward the detection of H2O2 with respect to response time and sensitivity as well as operational stability has been evaluated. It has a sensitivity of 0.272 mA cm(-2) mM(-1) in amperometric measurements with a detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-5) M H2O2, and the response time to achieve 95% of the steady-state current is <20 s. The effect of O2 in the air-saturated solution can be minimized by subtracting the additional current for the O2 reduction. Experimental measurements were based upon cyclic voltametric and amperometric techniques.