1
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Zhai Z, Chen Q, Wang Y, Ren W, Guo P. Orientational dynamics of the water layer adjacent to Au surface accelerated by polarization effect. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:234704. [PMID: 38884408 DOI: 10.1063/5.0198777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The orientation and rearrangement of water on a gold electrode significantly influences its physicochemical heterogeneous performance. Despite numerous experimental and theoretical studies aimed at uncovering the structural characteristics of interfacial water, the orientational behavior resulting from electrode-induced rearrangements remains a subject of ongoing debate. Here, we employed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the adaptive structure and dynamics properties of interfacial water on Au(111) and Au(100) surfaces by considering a polarizable model for Au atoms in comparison with the non-polarizable model. Compared to the nonpolarizable systems, the polarization effect can enhance the interaction between water molecules and the gold surface. Unexpectedly, the rotational dynamics directly associated with the orientational behavior of water adjacent to the gold surface is accelerated, thereby reducing the hydrogen bond lifetime. The underlying mechanism for this anomalous phenomenon originates from the polarization effect, which induces the attraction of the positive hydrogen atoms to the surface by the negative image charge. This leads to a change in orientation that disrupts the hydrogen bonds in the first water layer and subsequently accelerates reorientation dynamics of water molecules adjacent to the gold surface. These results shed light on the intricate interplay between polarization effects and water molecule dynamics on metal surfaces, establishing the foundation for the rational regulation of the orientation of interfacial water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidong Zhai
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Qun Chen
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yin Wang
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Wei Ren
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Pan Guo
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
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2
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Zhu J, Guo P, Zhang J, Jiang Y, Chen S, Liu J, Jiang J, Lan J, Zeng XC, He X, Yang J. Superdiffusive Rotation of Interfacial Water on Noble Metal Surface. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:16281-16294. [PMID: 38812457 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Interfacial water on a metal surface acts as an active layer through the reorientation of water, thereby facilitating the energy transfer and chemical reaction across the metal surface in various physicochemical and industrial processes. However, how this active interfacial water collectively behaves on flat noble metal substrates remains largely unknown due to the experimental limitation in capturing librational vibrational motion of interfacial water and prohibitive computational costs at the first-principles level. Herein, by implementing a machine-learning approach to train neural network potentials, we enable performing advanced molecular dynamics simulations with ab initio accuracy at a nanosecond scale to map the distinct rotational motion of water molecules on a metal surface at room temperature. The vibrational density of states of the interfacial water with two-layer profiles reveals that the rotation and vibration of water within the strong adsorption layer on the metal surface behave as if the water molecules in the bulk ice, wherein the O-H stretching frequency is well consistent with the experimental results. Unexpectedly, the water molecules within the adjacent weak adsorption layer exhibit superdiffusive rotation, contrary to the conventional diffusive rotation of bulk water, while the vibrational motion maintains the characteristic of bulk water. The mechanism underlying this abnormal superdiffusive rotation is attributed to the translation-rotation decoupling of water, in which the translation is restrained by the strong hydrogen bonding within the bilayer interfacial water, whereas the rotation is accelerated freely by the asymmetric water environment. This superdiffusive rotation dynamics may elucidate the experimentally observed large fluctuation of the potential of zero charge on Pt and thereby the conventional Helmholtz layer model revised by including the contribution of interfacial water orientation. The surprising superdiffusive rotation of vicinal water next to noble metals will shed new light on the physicochemical processes and the activity of water molecules near metal electrodes or catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabao Zhu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Pan Guo
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High Temperature Superconductors, International Centre of Quantum and Molecular Structures, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Jinhuan Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Yizhi Jiang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Shiwei Chen
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Jinfeng Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jian Jiang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Jinggang Lan
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry at New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Xiao Cheng Zeng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Xiao He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- New York University-East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry,New York University Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Jinrong Yang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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3
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Rezaei M, Sakong S, Groß A. Sodium Triflate Water-in-Salt Electrolytes in Advanced Battery Applications: A First-Principles-Based Molecular Dynamics Study. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38862108 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c01449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Offering a compelling combination of safety and cost-effectiveness, water-in-salt (WiS) electrolytes have emerged as promising frontiers in energy storage technology. Still, there is a strong demand for research and development efforts to make these electrolytes ripe for commercialization. Here, we present a first-principles-based molecular dynamics (MD) study addressing in detail the properties of a sodium triflate WiS electrolyte for Na-ion batteries. We have developed a workflow based on a machine learning (ML) potential derived from ab initio MD simulations. As ML potentials are typically restricted to the interpolation of the data points of the training set and have hardly any predictive properties, we subsequently optimize a classical force field based on physics principles to ensure broad applicability and high performance. Performing and analyzing detailed MD simulations, we identify several very promising properties of the sodium triflate as a WiS electrolyte but also indicate some potential stability challenges associated with its use as a battery electrolyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Rezaei
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, Oberberghof 7, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sung Sakong
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, Oberberghof 7, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Axel Groß
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, Oberberghof 7, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) for Electrochemical Energy Storage, Helmholtzstraße 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
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4
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Qin X, Bhowmik A, Vegge T, Castelli IE. Computational Investigation of LiF Formation at Graphite-Electrolyte Interfaces. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:29347-29354. [PMID: 38783425 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c01719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The performance of rechargeable batteries is strongly influenced by the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), and a comprehensive understanding of SEI formation from the atomic level is crucial for effective battery design. The dynamics of the electrode-electrolyte interface is important and needs to be considered when evaluating the mechanism of the SEI formation. Here, we employed ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to examine interfacial behaviors and LiF formation. Through molecular dynamics and structure sampling, we successfully constructed an electrochemical stability diagram correlating the thermodynamic free energy with the potential, which is determined by the work function of electrode surfaces. DFT calculations revealed that LiF formation at the graphite-electrolyte interfaces occurs easily via the intermediate LiHF complex. Interestingly, LiF tends to be solvated by solvents rather than directly deposited onto electrode surfaces (e.g., the Au electrode), a phenomenon we identify as a critical determinant of the porous and uneven nature of the LiF layer observed on graphite electrodes. Our finding offers new mechanistic insights into LiF formation at graphite-electrolyte interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueping Qin
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Arghya Bhowmik
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tejs Vegge
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ivano E Castelli
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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5
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Buraschi M, Horsfield AP, Cucinotta CS. Revealing Interface Polarization Effects on the Electrical Double Layer with Efficient Open Boundary Simulations under Potential Control. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:4872-4879. [PMID: 38682685 PMCID: PMC11089570 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
A major challenge in modeling interfacial processes in electrochemical (EC) devices is performing simulations at constant potential. This requires an open-boundary description of the electrons, so that they can enter and leave the computational cell. To enable realistic modeling of EC processes under potential control we have interfaced density functional theory with the hairy probe method in the weak coupling limit (Zauchner et al. Phys. Rev. B 2018, 97, 045116). Our implementation was systematically tested using simple parallel-plate capacitor models with pristine surfaces and a single layer of adsorbed water molecules. Remarkably, our code's efficiency is comparable with a standard DFT calculation. We reveal that local field effects at the electrical double layer induced by the change of applied potential can significantly affect the energies of chemical steps in heterogeneous electrocatalysis. Our results demonstrate the importance of an explicit modeling of the applied potential in a simulation and provide an efficient tool to control this critical parameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Buraschi
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, White City Campus, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
| | - Andrew P. Horsfield
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Thomas
Young Centre, London, U.K.
| | - Clotilde S. Cucinotta
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, White City Campus, London W12 0BZ, U.K.
- Thomas
Young Centre, London, U.K.
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6
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Yang J, Todorova M, Neugebauer J. Comparative analysis of surface phase diagrams in aqueous environment: Implicit vs explicit solvation models. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:164715. [PMID: 38661195 DOI: 10.1063/5.0190304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Identifying the stable surface phases under a given electrochemical conditions serves as the basis for studying the atomistic mechanism of reactions at solid/water interfaces. In this work, we systematically compare the performance of the two main approaches that are used to capture the impact of an aqueous environment, implicit and explicit solvent, on surface energies and phase diagrams. As a model system, we consider the magnesium/water interface with (i) Ca substitution and (ii) proton and hydroxyl adsorption. We show that while the implicit solvent model is computationally very efficient, it suffers from two shortcomings. First, the choice of the implicit solvent parameters significantly influences the energy landscape in the vicinity of the surface. The default parameters benchmarked on solvation in water underestimate the energy of the dissolved Mg ion and lead to spontaneous dissolution of the surface atom, resulting in large differences in the surface energetics. Second, in systems containing a charged surface and a solvated ion, the implicit solvent model may not converge to the energetically stable ionic charge state but remain in a high-energy metastable configuration, representing the neutral charge state of the ion. When these two issues are addressed, surface phase diagrams that closely match the explicit water results can be obtained. This makes the implicit solvent model highly attractive as a computationally-efficient surrogate model to compute surface energies and phase diagrams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mira Todorova
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jörg Neugebauer
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Str. 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
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7
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Zhao X, Liu Z, Zhao J, Kang T, Yan C, Ju C, Ma L, Zhang X, Wang Y, Wu Y. Highly efficient molecular film for inhibiting volatilization of hazardous nitric acid. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118151. [PMID: 38191045 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Nitric acid, an important basic chemical raw material, plays an important role in promoting the development of national economy. However, such liquid hazardous chemicals are easy to cause accidental leakage during production, transportation, storage and use. The high concentration and corrosive toxic gas generated from decomposition shows tremendous harm to the surrounding environment and human life safety. Therefore, how to inhibit the volatilization of nitric acid and effectively control and block the generation of the toxic gas in the first time are the key to deal with the nitric acid leakage accident. Herein, a new method of molecular film obstruction is proposed to inhibit the nitric acid volatilization. The molecular film inhibitor spontaneously spread and form an insoluble molecular film on the gas-liquid interface, changing the state of nitric acid liquid surface and inhibiting the volatilization on the molecular scale. The inhibition rate up to 96% can be achieved below 45 °C within 400 min. Cluster structure simulation and energy barrier calculation is performed to elucidate the inhibition mechanism. Theoretical analysis of energy barrier shows that the specific resistance of the inhibitor significantly increased to 460 s·cm-1 at 45 °C, and the generated energy barrier is about 17,000 kJ·mol-1, which is much higher than the maximum energy required for nitric acid volatilization of 107.97 kJ·mol-1. The molecular film obstruction strategy can effectively inhibit the volatilization of nitric acid. This strategy paves the way for preventing the volatilization of liquid hazardous chemicals in accidental leakage treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinying Zhao
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Zixin Liu
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Jingru Zhao
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Tingting Kang
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Canjun Yan
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Chenggong Ju
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Lijuan Ma
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen, Shanxi, 041000, China.
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
| | - Yue Wang
- Tianjin Fire Research Institute of MEM, NO. 110, South Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300381, China.
| | - Yan Wu
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 29 13th Avenue, Economic and Technologic Development Zone, Tianjin 300457, China.
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8
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Miao L, Jia W, Cao X, Jiao L. Computational chemistry for water-splitting electrocatalysis. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:2771-2807. [PMID: 38344774 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs01068b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic water splitting driven by renewable electricity has attracted great interest in recent years for producing hydrogen with high-purity. However, the practical applications of this technology are limited by the development of electrocatalysts with high activity, low cost, and long durability. In the search for new electrocatalysts, computational chemistry has made outstanding contributions by providing fundamental laws that govern the electron behavior and enabling predictions of electrocatalyst performance. This review delves into theoretical studies on electrochemical water-splitting processes. Firstly, we introduce the fundamentals of electrochemical water electrolysis and subsequently discuss the current advancements in computational methods and models for electrocatalytic water splitting. Additionally, a comprehensive overview of benchmark descriptors is provided to aid in understanding intrinsic catalytic performance for water-splitting electrocatalysts. Finally, we critically evaluate the remaining challenges within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licheng Miao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Wenqi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Xuejie Cao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
| | - Lifang Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
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9
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Serva A, Pezzotti S. S.O.S: Shape, orientation, and size tune solvation in electrocatalysis. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:094707. [PMID: 38426524 DOI: 10.1063/5.0186925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Current models to understand the reactivity of metal/aqueous interfaces in electrochemistry, e.g., volcano plots, are based on the adsorption free energies of reactants and products, which are often small hydrophobic molecules (such as in CO2 and N2 reduction). Calculations played a major role in the quantification and comprehension of these free energies in terms of the interactions that the reactive species form with the surface. However, solvation free energies also come into play in two ways: (i) by modulating the adsorption free energy together with solute-surface interactions, as the solute has to penetrate the water adlayer in contact with the surface and get partially desolvated (which costs free energy); (ii) by regulating transport across the interface, i.e., the free energy profile from the bulk to the interface, which is strongly non-monotonic due to the unique nature of metal/aqueous interfaces. Here, we use constant potential molecular dynamics to study the solvation contributions, and we uncover huge effects of the shape and orientation (on top of the already known size effect) of small hydrophobic and amphiphilic solutes on their adsorption free energy. We propose a minimal theoretical model, the S.O.S. model, that accounts for size, orientation, and shape effects. These novel aspects are rationalized by recasting the concepts at the base of the Lum-Chandler-Weeks theory of hydrophobic solvation (for small solutes in the so-called volume-dominated regime) into a layer-by-layer form, where the properties of each interfacial region close to the metal are explicitly taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Serva
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Physico-Chimie des Electrolytes et Nanosystèmes Interfaciaux, PHENIX, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Simone Pezzotti
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École normale supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
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10
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Chu ZQ, Zhu RY, Su J. Dynamic dissolution of Cm 3+ ions incorporated at the calcite-water interface: an ab initio molecular dynamics simulation study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:7545-7553. [PMID: 38357997 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp05611b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The stability of actinide-mineral solid solution in a water environment is critical for assessing the safety of nuclear-waste geological repositories and studying actinide migration in natural systems. However, the dissolution behavior of actinide ions incorporated at the mineral-water interface is still unclear at the atomic level. Herein, we present metadynamics simulations of the reaction pathways, thermodynamics and kinetics of trivalent curium ions (Cm3+) dissolving from calcite surfaces. Cm3+ ions incorporated in different calcite surfaces (i.e., terrace and stepped surfaces) with distinct coordination environments have different reaction pathways, free energy barriers and free energy changes. We found that Cm dissolution from a stepped surface is more favorable than that from a terrace surface, both thermodynamically and kinetically. In addition, water molecules seem to promote the detachment of curium ions from the surface by exerting a pulling force via water coordination with Cm3+ and a pushing force via proton migration to the surface layer and water diffusion in the vacant Cm site. Thus, the findings from this work prove to be a milestone in revealing the dynamic dissolution mechanism of trivalent actinides from minerals and would also help predict the dissolution behaviors of other metal ions at the solid-water interface in chemical and environmental sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Qin Chu
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China.
| | - Ru-Yu Zhu
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China.
| | - Jing Su
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China.
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11
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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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12
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Magnussen OM, Drnec J, Qiu C, Martens I, Huang JJ, Chattot R, Singer A. In Situ and Operando X-ray Scattering Methods in Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2024; 124:629-721. [PMID: 38253355 PMCID: PMC10870989 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemical and electrocatalytic processes are of key importance for the transition to a sustainable energy supply as well as for a wide variety of other technologically relevant fields. Further development of these processes requires in-depth understanding of the atomic, nano, and micro scale structure of the materials and interfaces in electrochemical devices under reaction conditions. We here provide a comprehensive review of in situ and operando studies by X-ray scattering methods, which are powerful and highly versatile tools to provide such understanding. We discuss the application of X-ray scattering to a wide variety of electrochemical systems, ranging from metal and oxide single crystals to nanoparticles and even full devices. We show how structural data on bulk phases, electrode-electrolyte interfaces, and nanoscale morphology can be obtained and describe recent developments that provide highly local information and insight into the composition and electronic structure. These X-ray scattering studies yield insights into the structure in the double layer potential range as well as into the structural evolution during electrocatalytic processes and phase formation reactions, such as nucleation and growth during electrodeposition and dissolution, the formation of passive films, corrosion processes, and the electrochemical intercalation into battery materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf M. Magnussen
- Kiel
University, Institute of Experimental and
Applied Physics, 24098 Kiel, Germany
- Ruprecht-Haensel
Laboratory, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Jakub Drnec
- ESRF,
Experiments Division, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Canrong Qiu
- Kiel
University, Institute of Experimental and
Applied Physics, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Jason J. Huang
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Raphaël Chattot
- ICGM,
Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Andrej Singer
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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13
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Cao H, Lv X, Qian S, Li J, Wang YG. Constant Potential Thermodynamic Integration for Obtaining the Free Energy Profile of Electrochemical Reaction. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:1314-1320. [PMID: 38285648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
In this work, we advanced an efficient free energy sampling method based on constrained ab initio molecular dynamics (cAIMD) with a fully explicit solvent layer to depict the electrochemical reaction process at constant surface charge density, named the "Constant-Potential Thermodynamic Integration (CPTI)" method. For automatically adjusting surface charge density at different states, we built an "on-the-fly" procedure which is capable of managing all the necessary steps during cAIMD simulations, including the system pre-equilibrium, surface charge density updating, and force sampling. We applied it to predict the potential-dependent free energy profiles of CO2 adsorption on a single-atom catalyst. The results show that our method can not only account for changes in electrostatic potential energy associated with potential but also consider the potential-induced solvation effects. Our approach enables the accurate simulation of electrochemical environment by presenting the complete solid-liquid interface and efficient computation of electrocatalytic reaction energetics based on a robust potential descriptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Cao
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Xinmao Lv
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Shengjie Qian
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University and Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yang-Gang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
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14
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Devlin SW, Bernal F, Riffe EJ, Wilson KR, Saykally RJ. Spiers Memorial Lecture: Water at interfaces. Faraday Discuss 2024; 249:9-37. [PMID: 37795954 DOI: 10.1039/d3fd00147d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
In this article we discuss current issues in the context of the four chosen subtopics for the meeting: dynamics and nano-rheology of interfacial water, electrified/charged aqueous interfaces, ice interfaces, and soft matter/water interfaces. We emphasize current advances in both theory and experiment, as well as important practical manifestations and areas of unresolved controversy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane W Devlin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Franky Bernal
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Erika J Riffe
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kevin R Wilson
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Richard J Saykally
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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15
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Zhang Z, Li H, Shao Y, Gan L, Kang F, Duan W, Hansen HA, Li J. Molecular understanding of the critical role of alkali metal cations in initiating CO 2 electroreduction on Cu(100) surface. Nat Commun 2024; 15:612. [PMID: 38242907 PMCID: PMC10799043 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44896-x] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecular understanding of the solid-liquid interface is challenging but essential to elucidate the role of the environment on the kinetics of electrochemical reactions. Alkali metal cations (M+), as a vital component at the interface, are found to be necessary for the initiation of carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) on coinage metals, and the activity and selectivity of CO2RR could be further enhanced with the cation changing from Li+ to Cs+, while the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvation and enhanced sampling methods, we systematically investigate the role of M+ in CO2RR on Cu surface. A monotonically decreasing CO2 activation barrier is obtained from Li+ to Cs+, which is attributed to the different coordination abilities of M+ with *CO2. Furthermore, we show that the competing hydrogen evolution reaction must be considered simultaneously to understand the crucial role of alkali metal cations in CO2RR on Cu surfaces, where H+ is repelled from the interface and constrained by M+. Our results provide significant insights into the design of electrochemical environments and highlight the importance of explicitly including the solvation and competing reactions in theoretical simulations of CO2RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Zhang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Hengyu Li
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangfan Shao
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Gan
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China
| | - Feiyu Kang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenhui Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Quantum Physics and Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
- Frontier Science Center for Quantum Information, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Heine Anton Hansen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Jia Li
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Sinopoli A, Liu Z, Abotaleb A, Alkhateeb A, Gladich I. Addressing the Effectiveness and Molecular Mechanism of the Catalytic CO 2 Hydration in Aqueous Solutions by Nickel Nanoparticles. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:771-780. [PMID: 38222595 PMCID: PMC10785337 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Hydration of carbon dioxide in water solution is the rate limiting step for the CO2 mineralization process, a process which is at the base of many carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies aiming to convert carbon dioxide to added-value products and mitigate climate change. Here, we present a combined experimental and computational study to clarify the effectiveness and molecular mechanism by which nickel nanoparticles, NiNPs, may enhance CO2 hydration in aqueous solutions. Contrary to previous literature, our kinetic experiments recording changes of pHs, conductivity, and dissolved carbon dioxide in solution reveal a minimal effect of the NiNPs in catalyzing CO2 hydration. Our atomistic simulations indicate that the Ni metal surface can coordinate only a limited number of water molecules, leaving uncoordinated metal sites for the binding of carbon dioxide or other cations in solution. This deactivates the catalyst and limits the continuous re-formation of a hydroxyl-decorated surface, which was a key chemical step in the previously suggested Ni-catalyzed hydration mechanism of carbon dioxide in aqueous solutions. At our experimental conditions, which expand the investigation of NiNP applicability toward a wider range of scenarios for CCU, NiNPs show a limited catalytic effect on the rate of CO2 hydration. Our study also highlights the importance of the solvation regime: while Ni surfaces may accelerate carbon dioxide hydration in water restricted environments, it may not be the case in fully hydrated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Sinopoli
- Qatar
Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, P. O. Box 34410, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ziao Liu
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Science and Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Ahmed Abotaleb
- Qatar
Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, P. O. Box 34410, Doha, Qatar
| | - Alaa Alkhateeb
- Qatar
Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, P. O. Box 34410, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ivan Gladich
- Qatar
Environment and Energy Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, P. O. Box 34410, Doha, Qatar
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17
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Tang W, Zhao S, Huang J. Origin of Solvent Dependency of the Potential of Zero Charge. JACS AU 2023; 3:3381-3390. [PMID: 38155648 PMCID: PMC10751779 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental properties of the Au(111)-KPF6 interface, particularly the potential of zero charge (PZC), exhibit pronounced variations among solvents, yet the origin remains largely elusive. In this study, we aim to link the solvent dependency to the microscopic phenomenon of electron spillover occurring at the metal-solution interface in heterogeneous dielectric media. Addressing the challenge of describing the solvent-modulated electron spillover under constant potential conditions, we adopt a semiclassical functional approach and parametrize it with first-principles calculations and experimental data. We unveil that the key variable governing this phenomenon is the local permittivity within the region approximately 2.5 Å above the metal edge. A higher local permittivity facilitates the electron spillover that tends to increase the PZC on the one hand and enhances the screening of the electronic charge that tends to decrease the PZC on the other. These dual effect lead to a nonmonotonic relationship between the PZC and the local permittivity. Moreover, our findings reveal that the electron spillover induces a capacitance peak at electrode potentials that are more negative than the PZC in concentrated solutions. This observation contrasts classical models predicting the peak to occur precisely at the PZC. To elucidate the contribution of electron spillover to the total capacitance, we decompose the total capacitance into a quantum capacitance of the metal Cq, a classical capacitance of electrolyte solution Cc, and a capacitance Cqc accounting for electron-ion correlations. Our calculations reveal that Cqc is negative due to the promoted electron spillover at more negative potentials. Our work not only reveals the importance of local permittivity in tuning the electron spillover but also presents a viable theoretical approach to study solvent effects on electrochemical interfaces under operating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Tang
- State
Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Institute
of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-13: Theory and Computation of
Energy Materials, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Shuangliang Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Guangxi
Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Resource Processing and Process Intensification
Technology and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Institute
of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-13: Theory and Computation of
Energy Materials, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich 52425, Germany
- Theory
of Electrocatalytic Interfaces, Faculty of Georesources and Materials
Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52062, Germany
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18
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Bergmann N, Hörmann NG, Reuter K. Ab Initio-Based Modeling of Thermodynamic Cyclic Voltammograms: A Benchmark Study on Ag(100) in Bromide Solutions. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:8815-8825. [PMID: 38038493 PMCID: PMC10720351 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Experimental cyclic voltammograms (CVs) measured in the slow scan rate limit can be entirely described in terms of the thermodynamic equilibrium quantities of the electrified solid-liquid interface. They correspondingly serve as an important benchmark for the quality of first-principles calculations of interfacial thermodynamics. Here, we investigate the partially drastic approximations made presently in computationally efficient calculations for the well-defined showcase of an Ag(100) model electrode in Br-containing electrolytes, where the nontrivial part of the CV stems from the electrosorption of Br ions. We specifically study the entanglement of common approximations in the treatment of solvation and field effects, as well as in the way macroscopic averages of the two key quantities, namely, the potential-dependent adsorbate coverage and electrosorption valency, are derived from the first-principles energetics. We demonstrate that the combination of energetics obtained within an implicit solvation model and a perturbative second order account of capacitive double layer effects with a constant-potential grand-canonical Monte Carlo sampling of the adsorbate layer provides an accurate description of the experimental CV. However, our analysis also shows that error cancellation at lower levels of theory may equally lead to good descriptions even though key underlying physics such as the disorder-order transition of the Br adlayer at increasing coverages is inadequately treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Bergmann
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicolas G. Hörmann
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karsten Reuter
- Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
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19
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Li P, Jiao Y, Huang J, Chen S. Electric Double Layer Effects in Electrocatalysis: Insights from Ab Initio Simulation and Hierarchical Continuum Modeling. JACS AU 2023; 3:2640-2659. [PMID: 37885580 PMCID: PMC10598835 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Structures of the electric double layer (EDL) at electrocatalytic interfaces, which are modulated by the material properties, the electrolyte characteristics (e.g., the pH, the types and concentrations of ions), and the electrode potential, play crucial roles in the reaction kinetics. Understanding the EDL effects in electrocatalysis has attracted substantial research interest in recent years. However, the intrinsic relationships between the specific EDL structures and electrocatalytic kinetics remain poorly understood, especially on the atomic scale. In this Perspective, we briefly review the recent advances in deciphering the EDL effects mainly in hydrogen and oxygen electrocatalysis through a multiscale approach, spanning from the atomistic scale simulated by ab initio methods to the macroscale by a hierarchical approach. We highlight the importance of resolving the local reaction environment, especially the local hydrogen bond network, in understanding EDL effects. Finally, some of the remaining challenges are outlined, and an outlook for future developments in these exciting frontiers is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuzhou Jiao
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Institute
of Energy and Climate Research, IEK-13: Theory and Computation of
Energy Materials, Forschungszentrum Jülich
GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Theory
of Electrocatalytic Interfaces, Faculty of Georesources and Materials
Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Shengli Chen
- Hubei
Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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20
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Han Y, Xu H, Li Q, Du A, Yan X. DFT-assisted low-dimensional carbon-based electrocatalysts design and mechanism study: a review. Front Chem 2023; 11:1286257. [PMID: 37920412 PMCID: PMC10619919 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1286257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Low-dimensional carbon-based (LDC) materials have attracted extensive research attention in electrocatalysis because of their unique advantages such as structural diversity, low cost, and chemical tolerance. They have been widely used in a broad range of electrochemical reactions to relieve environmental pollution and energy crisis. Typical examples include hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). Traditional "trial and error" strategies greatly slowed down the rational design of electrocatalysts for these important applications. Recent studies show that the combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental research is capable of accurately predicting the structures of electrocatalysts, thus revealing the catalytic mechanisms. Herein, current well-recognized collaboration methods of theory and practice are reviewed. The commonly used calculation methods and the basic functionals are briefly summarized. Special attention is paid to descriptors that are widely accepted as a bridge linking the structure and activity and the breakthroughs for high-volume accurate prediction of electrocatalysts. Importantly, correlated multiple descriptors are used to systematically describe the complicated interfacial electrocatalytic processes of LDC catalysts. Furthermore, machine learning and high-throughput simulations are crucial in assisting the discovery of new multiple descriptors and reaction mechanisms. This review will guide the further development of LDC electrocatalysts for extended applications from the aspect of DFT computations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Han
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hongzhe Xu
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Qin Li
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Aijun Du
- School of Chemistry and Physics and Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Xuecheng Yan
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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21
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Li J, Wu N, Zhang J, Wu HH, Pan K, Wang Y, Liu G, Liu X, Yao Z, Zhang Q. Machine Learning-Assisted Low-Dimensional Electrocatalysts Design for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 15:227. [PMID: 37831203 PMCID: PMC10575847 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01192-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Efficient electrocatalysts are crucial for hydrogen generation from electrolyzing water. Nevertheless, the conventional "trial and error" method for producing advanced electrocatalysts is not only cost-ineffective but also time-consuming and labor-intensive. Fortunately, the advancement of machine learning brings new opportunities for electrocatalysts discovery and design. By analyzing experimental and theoretical data, machine learning can effectively predict their hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. This review summarizes recent developments in machine learning for low-dimensional electrocatalysts, including zero-dimension nanoparticles and nanoclusters, one-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires, two-dimensional nanosheets, as well as other electrocatalysts. In particular, the effects of descriptors and algorithms on screening low-dimensional electrocatalysts and investigating their HER performance are highlighted. Finally, the future directions and perspectives for machine learning in electrocatalysis are discussed, emphasizing the potential for machine learning to accelerate electrocatalyst discovery, optimize their performance, and provide new insights into electrocatalytic mechanisms. Overall, this work offers an in-depth understanding of the current state of machine learning in electrocatalysis and its potential for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Henan Key Laboratory of Function-Oriented Porous Materials, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471934, People's Republic of China
| | - Naiteng Wu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Henan Key Laboratory of Function-Oriented Porous Materials, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471934, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhang
- New Energy Technology Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, College of Science, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (NUPT), Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Hui Wu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 8588, USA.
| | - Kunming Pan
- Henan Key Laboratory of High-Temperature Structural and Functional Materials, National Joint Engineering Research Center for Abrasion Control and Molding of Metal Materials, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingxue Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Risk Perception and Prevention, Beijing, 100041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guilong Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Henan Key Laboratory of Function-Oriented Porous Materials, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471934, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianming Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and Henan Key Laboratory of Function-Oriented Porous Materials, Luoyang Normal University, Luoyang, 471934, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhenpeng Yao
- Center of Hydrogen Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200000, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaobao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China.
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22
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Wei L, Bai Q, Li X, Liu Z, Li C, Cui Y, Shen L, Zhu C, Fang W. Puckered Zigzag Monolayer Ice: Does a Confined Flat Four-Coordinated Monolayer Ice Always Have a Corresponding Puckered Phase? J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:8890-8895. [PMID: 37767947 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
We note that a flat, four-coordinated monolayer ice under confinement always has a corresponding puckered phase. Recently, a monolayer ice consisting of an array of zigzag water chains (ZZMI) predicted by first-principles calculations of water under confinement is a flat four-coordinated monolayer ice. Herein, to investigate whether puckered ZZMI exists stably, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of two-dimensional (2D) ice formation for water constrained in graphene nanocapillaries. We find a novel monolayer ice structure that can be viewed as the ZZMI puckered along the direction perpendicular to the zigzag chain (pZZMI). Unlike ZZMI that does not satisfy the ice rule, each water molecule in pZZMI can form four hydrogen bonds (HBs) via forming two stable intersublayer HBs and two intrasublayer HBs. This work provides a fresh perspective on 2D confined ice, highlighting the intrinsic connections between 2D confined ices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laiyang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Bai
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenruyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhong Cui
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310023, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Shen
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Chongqin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Weihai Fang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
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23
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Rezaei M, Sakong S, Groß A. Molecular Modeling of Water-in-Salt Electrolytes: A Comprehensive Analysis of Polarization Effects and Force Field Parameters in Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:5712-5730. [PMID: 37528639 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Accurate modeling of highly concentrated aqueous solutions, such as water-in-salt (WiS) electrolytes in battery applications, requires proper consideration of polarization contributions to atomic interactions. Within the force field molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the atomic polarization can be accounted for at various levels. Nonpolarizable force fields implicitly account for polarization effects by incorporating them into their van der Waals interaction parameters. They can additionally mimic electron polarization within a mean-field approximation through ionic charge scaling. Alternatively, explicit polarization description methods, such as the Drude oscillator model, can be selectively applied to either a subset of polarizable atoms or all polarizable atoms to enhance simulation accuracy. The trade-off between simulation accuracy and computational efficiency highlights the importance of determining an optimal level of accounting for atomic polarization. In this study, we analyze different approaches to include polarization effects in MD simulations of WiS electrolytes, with an example of a Na-OTF solution. These approaches range from a nonpolarizable to a fully polarizable force field. After careful examination of computational costs, simulation stability, and feasibility of controlling the electrolyte properties, we identify an efficient combination of force fields: the Drude polarizable force field for salt ions and non-polarizable models for water. This cost-effective combination is sufficiently flexible to reproduce a broad range of electrolyte properties, while ensuring simulation stability over a relatively wide range of force field parameters. Furthermore, we conduct a thorough evaluation of the influence of various force field parameters on both the simulation results and technical requirements, with the aim of establishing a general framework for force field optimization and facilitating parametrization of similar systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Rezaei
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, Oberberghof 7, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sung Sakong
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, Oberberghof 7, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Axel Groß
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, Oberberghof 7, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) for Electrochemical Energy Storage, Helmholtzstraße 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany
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24
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Badgurjar D, Huynh M, Masters B, Wuttig A. Non-Covalent Interactions Mimic the Covalent: An Electrode-Orthogonal Self-Assembled Layer. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:17734-17745. [PMID: 37548952 PMCID: PMC10436282 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c04387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Charge-transfer events central to energy conversion and storage and molecular sensing occur at electrified interfaces. Synthetic control over the interface is traditionally accessed through electrode-specific covalent tethering of molecules. Covalent linkages inherently limit the scope and the potential stability window of molecularly tunable electrodes. Here, we report a synthetic strategy that is agnostic to the electrode's surface chemistry to molecularly define electrified interfaces. We append ferrocene redox reporters to amphiphiles, utilizing non-covalent electrostatic and van der Waals interactions to prepare a self-assembled layer stable over a 2.9 V range. The layer's voltammetric response and in situ infrared spectra mimic those reported for analogous covalently bound ferrocene. This design is electrode-orthogonal; layer self-assembly is reversible and independent of the underlying electrode material's surface chemistry. We demonstrate that the design can be utilized across a wide range of electrode material classes (transition metal, carbon, carbon composites) and morphologies (nanostructured, planar). Merging atomically precise organic synthesis of amphiphiles with in situ non-covalent self-assembly at polarized electrodes, our work sets the stage for predictive and non-fouling synthetic control over electrified interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Benjamin Masters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Anna Wuttig
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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25
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Liu L, Xiao H. Inverted Region in Electrochemical Reduction of CO 2 Induced by Potential-Dependent Pauli Repulsion. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 37294851 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) is of great significance to energy and environmental engineering, while fundamental questions remain regarding its mechanisms. Herein, we formulate a fundamental understanding of the interplay between the applied potential (U) and kinetics of CO2 activation in eCO2RR on Cu surfaces. We find that the nature of the CO2 activation mechanism in eCO2RR varies with U, and it is the sequential electron-proton transfer (SEPT) mechanism dominant at the working U but switched to the concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) mechanism at highly negative U. We then identify that the barrier of the electron-transfer step in the SEPT mechanism exhibits an inverted region as U decreases, which originates from the rapidly rising Pauli repulsion in the physisorption of CO2 with decreasing U. We further demonstrate catalyst designs that effectively suppress the adverse effect of Pauli repulsion. This fundamental understanding may be general for the electrochemical reduction reactions of closed-shell molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyu Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hai Xiao
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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26
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Calle-Vallejo F. The ABC of Generalized Coordination Numbers and Their Use as a Descriptor in Electrocatalysis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023:e2207644. [PMID: 37102632 PMCID: PMC10369287 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The quest for enhanced electrocatalysts can be boosted by descriptor-based analyses. Because adsorption energies are the most common descriptors, electrocatalyst design is largely based on brute-force routines that comb materials databases until an energetic criterion is verified. In this review, it is shown that an alternative is provided by generalized coordination numbers (denoted by CN ¯ $\overline {{\rm{CN}}} $ or GCN), an inexpensive geometric descriptor for strained and unstrained transition metals and some alloys. CN ¯ $\overline {{\rm{CN}}} $ captures trends in adsorption energies on both extended surfaces and nanoparticles and is used to elaborate structure-sensitive electrocatalytic activity plots and selectivity maps. Importantly, CN ¯ $\overline {{\rm{CN}}} $ outlines the geometric configuration of the active sites, thereby enabling an atom-by-atom design, which is not possible using energetic descriptors. Specific examples for various adsorbates (e.g., *OH, *OOH, *CO, and *H), metals (e.g., Pt and Cu), and electrocatalytic reactions (e.g., O2 reduction, H2 evolution, CO oxidation, and reduction) are presented, and comparisons are made against other descriptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Calle-Vallejo
- Nano-Bio Spectroscopy Group and European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF), Department of Advanced Materials and Polymers: Physics, Chemistry and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 20018, Av. Tolosa 72, San Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza de Euskadi 5, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
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27
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Zhang KX, Liu ZP. Electrochemical hydrogen evolution on Pt-based catalysts from a theoretical perspective. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:141002. [PMID: 37061480 DOI: 10.1063/5.0142540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by splitting water is a key technology toward a clean energy society, where Pt-based catalysts were long known to have the highest activity under acidic electrochemical conditions but suffer from high cost and poor stability. Here, we overview the current status of Pt-catalyzed HER from a theoretical perspective, focusing on the methodology development of electrochemistry simulation, catalytic mechanism, and catalyst stability. Recent developments in theoretical methods for studying electrochemistry are introduced, elaborating on how they describe solid-liquid interface reactions under electrochemical potentials. The HER mechanism, the reaction kinetics, and the reaction sites on Pt are then summarized, which provides an atomic-level picture of Pt catalyst surface dynamics under reaction conditions. Finally, state-of-the-art experimental solutions to improve catalyst stability are also introduced, which illustrates the significance of fundamental understandings in the new catalyst design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Xiang Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Material, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Science, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhi-Pan Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Material, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Science, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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28
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Wang Y, Fu Q, Shen X. Promotion Effect of Well-Defined Deposited Water Layer on Carbon Monoxide Oxidation Catalyzed by Single-Atom Alloys. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:3498-3505. [PMID: 37014142 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Single-atom alloys (SAAs) exhibit excellent catalytic performance and unique electronic structures, emerging as promising catalysts for potential industrial reactions. While most of them have been widely employed under reducing conditions, few are applied in oxidation reactions. Herein, using density functional theory calculations and microkinetic simulations, we demonstrate that a well-defined one water layer can improve CO oxidation on model SAAs, with reaction rates increased by orders of magnitude. It is found that the formation of hydrogen bonds and the transfer of charges effectively enhance the adsorption and activation of oxygen molecules at the H2O/SAA interfaces, which not only increases the surface coverage of O2 species but also reduces the energy barrier of CO oxidation. The proposed strategy in this work would extend the application range of SAA catalysts to oxidation reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Functional Material Manufacturing of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- School of Future Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230088, China
| | - Xiangjian Shen
- Engineering Research Center of Advanced Functional Material Manufacturing of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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29
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Zhao Y, Adiyeri Saseendran DP, Huang C, Triana CA, Marks WR, Chen H, Zhao H, Patzke GR. Oxygen Evolution/Reduction Reaction Catalysts: From In Situ Monitoring and Reaction Mechanisms to Rational Design. Chem Rev 2023; 123:6257-6358. [PMID: 36944098 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are core steps of various energy conversion and storage systems. However, their sluggish reaction kinetics, i.e., the demanding multielectron transfer processes, still render OER/ORR catalysts less efficient for practical applications. Moreover, the complexity of the catalyst-electrolyte interface makes a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic OER/ORR mechanisms challenging. Fortunately, recent advances of in situ/operando characterization techniques have facilitated the kinetic monitoring of catalysts under reaction conditions. Here we provide selected highlights of recent in situ/operando mechanistic studies of OER/ORR catalysts with the main emphasis placed on heterogeneous systems (primarily discussing first-row transition metals which operate under basic conditions), followed by a brief outlook on molecular catalysts. Key sections in this review are focused on determination of the true active species, identification of the active sites, and monitoring of the reactive intermediates. For in-depth insights into the above factors, a short overview of the metrics for accurate characterizations of OER/ORR catalysts is provided. A combination of the obtained time-resolved reaction information and reliable activity data will then guide the rational design of new catalysts. Strategies such as optimizing the restructuring process as well as overcoming the adsorption-energy scaling relations will be discussed. Finally, pending current challenges and prospects toward the understanding and development of efficient heterogeneous catalysts and selected homogeneous catalysts are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggui Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Chong Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carlos A Triana
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Walker R Marks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hang Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Han Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Greta R Patzke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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30
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Huang J, Zhang Y, Li M, Groß A, Sakong S. Comparing Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics and a Semiclassical Grand Canonical Scheme for the Electric Double Layer of the Pt(111)/Water Interface. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:2354-2363. [PMID: 36848227 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c03892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The theoretical modeling of metal/water interfaces centers on an appropriate configuration of the electric double layer (EDL) under grand canonical conditions. In principle, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations would be the appropriate choice for treating the competing water-water and water-metal interactions and explicitly considering the atomic and electronic degrees of freedom. However, this approach only allows simulations of relatively small canonical ensembles over a limited period (shorter than 100 ps). On the other hand, computationally efficient semiclassical approaches can treat the EDL model based on a grand canonical scheme by averaging the microscopic details. Thus, an improved description of the EDL can be obtained by combining AIMD simulations and semiclassical methods based on a grand canonical scheme. By taking the Pt(111)/water interface as an example, we compare these approaches in terms of the electric field, water configuration, and double-layer capacitance. Furthermore, we discuss how the combined merits of the approaches can contribute to advances in EDL theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Huang
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- IEK-13, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Yufan Zhang
- IEK-13, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Mengru Li
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Axel Groß
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Electrochemical Energy Storage, Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU), 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sung Sakong
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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31
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Zhou Y, Ouyang Y, Zhang Y, Li Q, Wang J. Machine Learning Assisted Simulations of Electrochemical Interfaces: Recent Progress and Challenges. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:2308-2316. [PMID: 36847421 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c03288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical interface, where the adsorption of reactants and electrocatalytic reactions take place, has long been a focus of attention. Some of the important processes on it tend to possess relatively slow kinetic characteristics, which are usually beyond the scope of ab initio molecular dynamics. The newly emerging technique, machine learning methods, provides an alternative approach to achieve thousands of atoms and nanosecond time scale while ensuring precision and efficiency. In this Perspective, we summarize in detail the recent progress and achievements made by the introduction of machine learning to simulate electrochemical interfaces, and focus on the limitations of current machine learning models, such as accurate descriptions of long-range electrostatic interactions and the kinetics of the electrochemical reactions occurring at the interface. Finally, we further point out the future directions for machine learning to expand in the field of electrochemical interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipeng Zhou
- School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Yixin Ouyang
- School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Yehui Zhang
- School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Qiang Li
- School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Jinlan Wang
- School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
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32
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Fidanyan K, Liu G, Rossi M. Ab initio study of water dissociation on a charged Pd(111) surface. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:094707. [PMID: 36889966 DOI: 10.1063/5.0139082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The interactions between molecules and electrode surfaces play a key role in electrochemical processes and are a subject of extensive research, both experimental and theoretical. In this paper, we address the water dissociation reaction on a Pd(111) electrode surface, modeled as a slab embedded in an external electric field. We aim at unraveling the relationship between surface charge and zero-point energy in aiding or hindering this reaction. We calculate the energy barriers with dispersion-corrected density-functional theory and an efficient parallel implementation of the nudged-elastic-band method. We show that the lowest dissociation barrier and consequently the highest reaction rate take place when the field reaches a strength where two different geometries of the water molecule in the reactant state are equally stable. The zero-point energy contributions to this reaction, on the other hand, remain nearly constant across a wide range of electric field strengths, despite significant changes in the reactant state. Interestingly, we show that the application of electric fields that induce a negative charge on the surface can make nuclear tunneling more significant for these reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Fidanyan
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guoyuan Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mariana Rossi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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33
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Bramley GA, Beynon OT, Stishenko PV, Logsdail AJ. The application of QM/MM simulations in heterogeneous catalysis. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:6562-6585. [PMID: 36810655 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp04537k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The QM/MM simulation method is provenly efficient for the simulation of biological systems, where an interplay of extensive environment and delicate local interactions drives a process of interest through a funnel on a complex energy landscape. Recent advances in quantum chemistry and force-field methods present opportunities for the adoption of QM/MM to simulate heterogeneous catalytic processes, and their related systems, where similar intricacies exist on the energy landscape. Herein, the fundamental theoretical considerations for performing QM/MM simulations, and the practical considerations for setting up QM/MM simulations of catalytic systems, are introduced; then, areas of heterogeneous catalysis are explored where QM/MM methods have been most fruitfully applied. The discussion includes simulations performed for adsorption processes in solvent at metallic interfaces, reaction mechanisms within zeolitic systems, nanoparticles, and defect chemistry within ionic solids. We conclude with a perspective on the current state of the field and areas where future opportunities for development and application exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Adrian Bramley
- Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, CF10 3AT, UK.
| | - Owain Tomos Beynon
- Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, CF10 3AT, UK.
| | | | - Andrew James Logsdail
- Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, CF10 3AT, UK.
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34
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Huang J. Zooming into the Inner Helmholtz Plane of Pt(111)-Aqueous Solution Interfaces: Chemisorbed Water and Partially Charged Ions. JACS AU 2023; 3:550-564. [PMID: 36873696 PMCID: PMC9975841 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The double layer on transition metals, i.e., platinum, features chemical metal-solvent interactions and partially charged chemisorbed ions. Chemically adsorbed solvent molecules and ions are situated closer to the metal surface than electrostatically adsorbed ions. This effect is described tersely by the concept of an inner Helmholtz plane (IHP) in classical double layer models. The IHP concept is extended here in three aspects. First, a refined statistical treatment of solvent (water) molecules considers a continuous spectrum of orientational polarizable states, rather than a few representative states, and non-electrostatic, chemical metal-solvent interactions. Second, chemisorbed ions are partially charged, rather than being electroneutral or having integral charges as in the solution bulk, with the coverage determined by a generalized, energetically distributed adsorption isotherm. The surface dipole moment induced by partially charged, chemisorbed ions is considered. Third, considering different locations and properties of chemisorbed ions and solvent molecules, the IHP is divided into two planes, namely, an AIP (adsorbed ion plane) and ASP (adsorbed solvent plane). The model is used to study how the partially charged AIP and polarizable ASP lead to intriguing double-layer capacitance curves that are different from what the conventional Gouy-Chapman-Stern model describes. The model provides an alternative interpretation for recent capacitance data of Pt(111)-aqueous solution interfaces calculated from cyclic voltammetry. This revisit brings forth questions regarding the existence of a pure double-layer region at realistic Pt(111). The implications, limitations, and possible experimental confirmation of the present model are discussed.
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35
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Schienbein P. Spectroscopy from Machine Learning by Accurately Representing the Atomic Polar Tensor. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:705-712. [PMID: 36695707 PMCID: PMC9933433 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Vibrational spectroscopy is a key technique to elucidate microscopic structure and dynamics. Without the aid of theoretical approaches, it is, however, often difficult to understand such spectra at a microscopic level. Ab initio molecular dynamics has repeatedly proved to be suitable for this purpose; however, the computational cost can be daunting. Here, the E(3)-equivariant neural network e3nn is used to fit the atomic polar tensor of liquid water a posteriori on top of existing molecular dynamics simulations. Notably, the introduced methodology is general and thus transferable to any other system as well. The target property is most fundamental and gives access to the IR spectrum, and more importantly, it is a highly powerful tool to directly assign IR spectral features to nuclear motion─a connection which has been pursued in the past but only using severe approximations due to the prohibitive computational cost. The herein introduced methodology overcomes this bottleneck. To benchmark the machine learning model, the IR spectrum of liquid water is calculated, indeed showing excellent agreement with the explicit reference calculation. In conclusion, the presented methodology gives a new route to calculate accurate IR spectra from molecular dynamics simulations and will facilitate the understanding of such spectra on a microscopic level.
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36
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Wan H, Wang X, Tan L, Filippi M, Strasser P, Rossmeisl J, Bagger A. Electrochemical Synthesis of Urea: Co-reduction of Nitric Oxide and Carbon Monoxide. ACS Catal 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c05315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wan
- Center for High Entropy Alloy Catalysis (CHEAC), Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xingli Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University Berlin, 10623Berlin, Germany
| | - Lei Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University Berlin, 10623Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Filippi
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University Berlin, 10623Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Strasser
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering Division, Technical University Berlin, 10623Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Rossmeisl
- Center for High Entropy Alloy Catalysis (CHEAC), Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexander Bagger
- Center for High Entropy Alloy Catalysis (CHEAC), Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, 2.03b, Royal School of Mines, Prince Consort Rd., LondonSW7 2AZ, England
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37
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Clabaut P, Beisert M, Michel C, Steinmann SN. Beyond single-crystal surfaces: The GAL21 water/metal force field. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:194705. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0130368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Solvent effects are notoriously difficult to describe for metallic nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we introduce GAL21 which is the first pairwise additive force field that is specifically designed to modulate the near chemisorption energy of water as a function of the coordination numbers of the metallic atoms. We find a quadratic dependence to be most suitable for capturing the dependence of the adsorption energy of water on the generalized coordination number (GCN) of the metal atoms. GAL21 has been fitted against DFT adsorption energies for Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Pd, Pt, and Co on 500 configurations and validated on about 3000 configurations for each metal, constructed on five surfaces with GCNs varying from 2.5 to 11.25. Depending on the metals, the root mean square deviation is found between 0.7 kcal mol−1 (Au) to 1.6 kcal mol−1 (Ni). Using GAL21, as implemented in the open-source code CP2K, we then evaluate the solvation energy of Au55 and Pt55 NPs in water using thermodynamic integration. The solvation free energy is found to be larger for Pt than for Au and systematically larger than 200 kcal mol−1, demonstrating the large impact of solvent on the surface energetics of NPs. Still, given that the amorphous NPs are both, the most stable and the most solvated ones, we do not predict a change in the preferred morphology between the gas-phase and in water. Finally, based on a linear regression on three sizes of NPs (from 38 to 147), the solvation energy for Au and Pt surface atoms is found to be −5.2 and −9.9 kcal mol−1, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Clabaut
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Matthieu Beisert
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Carine Michel
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
| | - Stephan N. Steinmann
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie UMR 5182, 46 allée d’Italie, F-69364 Lyon, France
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38
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Kraka E, Quintano M, La Force HW, Antonio JJ, Freindorf M. The Local Vibrational Mode Theory and Its Place in the Vibrational Spectroscopy Arena. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:8781-8798. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c05962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elfi Kraka
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, 3215 Daniel Ave, Dallas, Texas75275-0314, United States
| | - Mateus Quintano
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, 3215 Daniel Ave, Dallas, Texas75275-0314, United States
| | - Hunter W. La Force
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, 3215 Daniel Ave, Dallas, Texas75275-0314, United States
| | - Juliana J. Antonio
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, 3215 Daniel Ave, Dallas, Texas75275-0314, United States
| | - Marek Freindorf
- Computational and Theoretical Chemistry Group (CATCO), Department of Chemistry, Southern Methodist University, 3215 Daniel Ave, Dallas, Texas75275-0314, United States
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39
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Nagatsuka N, Shibata N, Muratani T, Watanabe K. Proton Configuration in Water Chain on Pt(533). J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:7660-7666. [PMID: 35959992 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, a wetting behavior of Pt(533) is studied by using heterodyne-detected vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy under an ultrahigh-vacuum condition at 145 K. The imaginary parts of the surface nonlinear susceptibility (Imχ(2)) of the H-bonded OH stretching region are successfully obtained for submonolayer water coverage that show negative bands indicating H-down (proton pointing to the substrate) configurations both for the water at the step and at the terrace. The growth manner of the Imχ(2) signal with coverage and the results of an isotopic dilution are consistent with a model in which a one-dimensional (1D) chain at the step forms a "zigzag" structure that contains H-down orientations. This finding resolves the previous controversy in the literature concerning the proton configuration in the 1D water chain at the step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Nagatsuka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Noboru Shibata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Toya Muratani
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kazuya Watanabe
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Fogarty RM, Li BX, Harrison NM, Horsfield AP. Structure and interactions at the Mg(0001)/water interface: An ab initio study. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:244702. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0093562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A molecular level understanding of metal/bulk water interface structure is key for a wide range of processes, including aqueous corrosion, which is our focus, but their buried nature makes experimental investigation difficult and we must mainly rely on simulations. We investigate the Mg(0001)/water interface using second generation Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics (MD) to gain structural information, combined with static density functional theory calculations to probe the atomic interactions and electronic structure (e.g., calculating the potential of zero charge). By performing detailed structural analyses of both metal–surface atoms and the near-surface water, we find that, among other insights: (i) water adsorption causes significant surface roughening (the planar distribution for top-layer Mg has two peaks separated by [Formula: see text]), (ii) strongly adsorbed water covers only [Formula: see text] of available surface sites, and (iii) adsorbed water avoids clustering on the surface. Static calculations are used to gain a deeper understanding of the structuring observed in MD. For example, we use an energy decomposition analysis combined with calculated atomic charges to show that adsorbate clustering is unfavorable due to Coulombic repulsion between adsorption site surface atoms. Results are discussed in the context of previous simulations carried out on other metal/water interfaces. The largest differences for the Mg(0001)/water system appear to be the high degree of surface distortion and the minimal difference between the metal work function and metal/water potential of zero charge (at least compared to other interfaces with similar metal–water interaction strengths). The structural information, in this paper, is important for understanding aqueous Mg corrosion, as the Mg(0001)/water interface is the starting point for key reactions. Furthermore, our focus on understanding the driving forces behind this structuring leads to important insights for general metal/water interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. M. Fogarty
- Department of Materials and Thomas Young Centre, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - B. X. Li
- Department of Materials and Thomas Young Centre, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - N. M. Harrison
- Department of Materials and Thomas Young Centre, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - A. P. Horsfield
- Department of Materials and Thomas Young Centre, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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