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Li X, Ge L, Du Y, Huang H, Ha Y, Fu Z, Lu Y, Yang W, Wang X, Cheng Z. Highly Oxidized Oxide Surface toward Optimum Oxygen Evolution Reaction by Termination Engineering. ACS NANO 2023; 17:6811-6821. [PMID: 36943144 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical step for sustainable fuel production through electrochemistry process. Maximizing active sites of nanocatalyst with enhanced intrinsic activity, especially the activation of lattice oxygen, is gradually recognized as the primary incentive. Since the surface reconfiguration to oxyhydroxide is unavoidable for oxygen-activated transition metal oxides, developing a surface termination like oxyhydroxide in oxides is highly desirable. In this work, we demonstrate an unusual surface termination of (111)-facet Co3O4 nanosheet that is exclusively containing edge-sharing octahedral Co3+ similar to CoOOH that can perform at approximately 40 times higher current density at 1.63 V (vs RHE) than commercial RuO2. It is found that this surface termination has an oxidized oxygen state in contrast to standard Co-O systems, which can serve as active site independently, breaking the scaling relationship limit. This work forwards the applications of oxide electrocatalysts in the energy conversion field by surface termination engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoning Li
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM), Australia Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Liangbing Ge
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photon Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yumeng Du
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM), Australia Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Haoliang Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photon Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yang Ha
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Zhengping Fu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photon Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yalin Lu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photon Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. China
| | - Wanli Yang
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM), Australia Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
| | - Zhenxiang Cheng
- Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM), Australia Institute for Innovative Materials, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
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Jiang S, Mushrif SH. Determining surface-specific Hubbard- U corrections and identifying key adsorbates on nickel and cobalt oxide catalyst surfaces. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:8903-8912. [PMID: 36916613 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp04814k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
NiO is a popular transition metal oxide (TMO) with high thermal and chemical stability and Co3O4 is a relatively more reducible TMO due to weaker metal-oxygen bonds. Both are often used as catalysts in a variety of chemical transformations. Density functional theory (DFT) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to investigate catalysis on TMO surfaces, yet both techniques have their own limitations. The accuracy of DFT highly depends on the choice of Hubbard U correction. The bulk-property optimized U value of 5.3 eV for NiO and different U values for Co3O4, without any consensus, are often used in the literature to simulate surface catalysis. However, U values optimized using bulk properties often fail to reproduce surface-adsorbate interactions on TMOs. Similarly, there exists arbitrariness in assigning observed XPS shifts to different surface species on these metal oxides. Hence, a synergistic application of XPS and DFT+U is implemented to determine the surface specific U values for NiO and Co3O4, and to identify adsorbed surface moieties corresponding to experimentally observed XPS shifts. For the NiO (100) surface, the U value of ∼2 eV is able to reproduce the experimentally observed XPS O1s core level binding energy shifts correctly, instead of the bulk property optimized and commonly used U value of 5.3 eV. Using this surface specific U value of 2 eV, the experimentally observed XPS shifts are assigned. Similarly, for Co3O4 (100) surface, ∼3 eV of U value could successfully predict the experimentally observed XPS shifts and corresponding adsorbates. The surface adsorbates and configurations suggested in this work will help analyze experimental XPS data and the surface specific U values will ensure accurate predictions of adsorption and reaction energetics on these catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Jiang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada.
| | - Samir H Mushrif
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada.
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Makgae O, Moya A, Phaahlamohlaka T, Huang C, Coville N, Kirkland A, Liberti E. Direct visualisation of the surface atomic active sites of carbon-supported Co3O4 nanocrystals via high-resolution phase restoration. Chemphyschem 2022; 23:e202200031. [PMID: 35476226 PMCID: PMC9401059 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202200031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The atomic arrangement of the terminating facets on spinel Co3O4 nanocrystals is strongly linked to their catalytic performance. However, the spinel crystal structure offers multiple possible surface terminations depending on the synthesis. Thus, understanding the terminating surface atomic structure is essential in developing high‐performance Co3O4 nanocrystals. In this work, we present direct atomic‐scale observation of the surface terminations of Co3O4 nanoparticles supported on hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) using exit wavefunction reconstruction from aberration‐corrected transmission electron microscopy focal‐series. The restored high‐resolution phases show distinct resolved oxygen and cobalt atomic columns. The data show that the structure of {100}, {110}, and {111} facets of spinel Co3O4 exhibit characteristic active sites for carbon monoxide (CO) adsorption, in agreement with density functional theory calculations. Of these facets, the {100} and {110} surface terminations are better suited for CO adsorption than the {111}. However, the presence of oxygen on the {111} surface termination indicates this facet also plays an essential role in CO adsorption. Our results demonstrate direct evidence of the surface termination atomic structure beyond the assumed stoichiometry of the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofentse Makgae
- Lund University, Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Naturvetarvägen 14, P.O. Box 124, 221 00, Lund, SWEDEN
| | - Arthur Moya
- Oxford University: University of Oxford, Materials, UNITED KINGDOM
| | | | - Chen Huang
- Oxford University: University of Oxford, Materials, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Neil Coville
- Wits University: University of the Witwatersrand, chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa, SOUTH AFRICA
| | - Angus Kirkland
- Oxford University: University of Oxford, Materials, 16 Parks Road, Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PH, Oxford, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Emanuela Liberti
- Oxford University: University of Oxford, Materials, UNITED KINGDOM
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Wang L, Huang Z, Guo S, Wu X, Shen H, Zhao H, Jing G. Computationally assisted, surface energy-driven synthesis of Mn-doped Co3O4 fibers with high percentage of reactive facets and enhanced activity for preferential oxidation of CO in H2. J Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Liu Y, Peng Y, Naschitzki M, Gewinner S, Schöllkopf W, Kuhlenbeck H, Pentcheva R, Roldan Cuenya B. Surface oxygen Vacancies on Reduced Co 3 O 4 (100): Superoxide Formation and Ultra-Low-Temperature CO Oxidation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:16514-16520. [PMID: 33998763 PMCID: PMC8361976 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202103359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The activation of molecular oxygen is a fundamental step in almost all catalytic oxidation reactions. We have studied this topic and the role of surface vacancies for Co3 O4 (100) films with a synergistic combination of experimental and theoretical methods. We show that the as-prepared surface is B-layer terminated and that mild reduction produces oxygen single and double vacancies in this layer. Oxygen adsorption experiments clearly reveal different superoxide species below room temperature. The superoxide desorbs below ca. 120 K from a vacancy-free surface and is not active for CO oxidation while superoxide on a surface with oxygen vacancies is stable up to ca. 270 K and can oxidize CO already at the low temperature of 120 K. The vacancies are not refilled by oxygen from the superoxide, which makes them suitable for long-term operation. Our joint experimental/theoretical effort highlights the relevance of surface vacancies in catalytic oxidation reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Interface Science Department, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuman Peng
- Department of Physics and Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE), Universität Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 1, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Naschitzki
- Interface Science Department, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandy Gewinner
- Molecular Physics Department, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wieland Schöllkopf
- Molecular Physics Department, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helmut Kuhlenbeck
- Interface Science Department, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rossitza Pentcheva
- Department of Physics and Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE), Universität Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 1, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
- Interface Science Department, Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195, Berlin, Germany
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Liu Y, Peng Y, Naschitzki M, Gewinner S, Schöllkopf W, Kuhlenbeck H, Pentcheva R, Roldan Cuenya B. Surface oxygen Vacancies on Reduced Co
3
O
4
(100): Superoxide Formation and Ultra‐Low‐Temperature CO Oxidation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202103359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Interface Science Department Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Yuman Peng
- Department of Physics and Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE) Universität Duisburg-Essen Lotharstr. 1 47057 Duisburg Germany
| | - Mathias Naschitzki
- Interface Science Department Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Sandy Gewinner
- Molecular Physics Department Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Wieland Schöllkopf
- Molecular Physics Department Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Helmut Kuhlenbeck
- Interface Science Department Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 14195 Berlin Germany
| | - Rossitza Pentcheva
- Department of Physics and Center for Nanointegration (CENIDE) Universität Duisburg-Essen Lotharstr. 1 47057 Duisburg Germany
| | - Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
- Interface Science Department Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 14195 Berlin Germany
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Wu F, Zhan S, Yang L, Zhuo Z, Wang X, Li X, Luo Y, Jiang J. Spatial Confinement of a Carbon Nanocone for an Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:2252-2258. [PMID: 33635648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A major bottleneck of large-scale water splitting for hydrogen production is the lack of catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with low cost and high efficiency. In this work, we proposed an electrocatalyst of a curved carbon nanocone embedded with two TMN4 active sites (TM = transition metal) and used first-principles calculations to investigate their OER mechanisms and catalytic activities. In the particular spatial confinement of a curved nanocone, we found that the distance between intermediates adsorbed on two active sites is shorter than the distance between these two active sites. This finding can be used to enhance OER activity by distance-dependent interaction between intermediates through two different mechanisms. The first mechanism in which an O2 molecule is generated from two neighboring *O intermediates exhibits a linear activity trend, and the lowest overpotential is 0.27 V for the FeN4 system. In the second mechanism, selective stabilization of the *OOH intermediate is realized, leading to a new scaling relationship (ΔG*OOH = ΔG*OH + 3.04 eV) associated with a modified OER activity volcano (theoretical volcano apex at 0.29 V). The studied mechanisms of the spatial confinement of a carbon nanocone provide a new perspective for designing efficient OER catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
| | - Shaoqi Zhan
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Li Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwen Zhuo
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
| | - Xijun Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
| | - Xiyu Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yi Luo
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, P. R. China
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