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Williams NJ, Quérel E, Seymour ID, Skinner SJ, Aguadero A. Operando Characterization and Theoretical Modeling of Metal|Electrolyte Interphase Growth Kinetics in Solid-State Batteries. Part II: Modeling. CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS : A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2023; 35:863-869. [PMID: 36818589 PMCID: PMC9933423 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c03131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the interfacial dynamics of batteries is crucial to control degradation and increase electrochemical performance and cycling life. If the chemical potential of a negative electrode material lies outside of the stability window of an electrolyte (either solid or liquid), a decomposition layer (interphase) will form at the interface. To better understand and control degradation at interfaces in batteries, theoretical models describing the rate of formation of these interphases are required. This study focuses on the growth kinetics of the interphase forming between solid electrolytes and metallic negative electrodes in solid-state batteries. More specifically, we demonstrate that the rate of interphase formation and metal plating during charge can be accurately described by adapting the theory of coupled ion-electron transfer (CIET). The model is validated by fitting experimental data presented in the first part of this study. The data was collected operando as a Na metal layer was plated on top of a NaSICON solid electrolyte (Na3.4Zr2Si2.4P0.6O12 or NZSP) inside an XPS chamber. This study highlights the depth of information which can be extracted from this single operando experiment and is widely applicable to other solid-state electrolyte systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Williams
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States
| | - Edouard Quérel
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Ieuan D. Seymour
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Stephen J. Skinner
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Ainara Aguadero
- Department
of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, ICMM-CSIC, Sor Juana Ines de La Cruz 3, 28049Madrid, Spain
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Kritikos EM, Lele A, van Duin ACT, Giusti A. Atomistic insight into the effects of electrostatic fields on hydrocarbon reaction kinetics. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:054109. [PMID: 36754820 DOI: 10.1063/5.0134785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations are performed to provide insight into the effects of external electrostatic fields on hydrocarbon reaction kinetics. By comparing the results from MD and DFT, the suitability of the MD method in modeling electrodynamics is first assessed. Results show that the electric field-induced polarization predicted by the MD charge equilibration method is in good agreement with various DFT charge partitioning schemes. Then, the effects of oriented external electric fields on the transition pathways of non-redox reactions are investigated. Results on the minimum energy path suggest that electric fields can cause catalysis or inhibition of oxidation reactions, whereas pyrolysis reactions are not affected due to the weaker electronegativity of the hydrogen and carbon atoms. MD simulations of isolated reactions show that the reaction kinetics is also affected by applied external Lorentz forces and interatomic Coulomb forces since they can increase or decrease the energy of collision depending on the molecular conformation. In addition, electric fields can affect the kinetics of polar species and force them to align in the direction of field lines. These effects are attributed to energy transfer via intermolecular collisions and stabilization under the external Lorentz force. The kinetics of apolar species is not significantly affected mainly due to the weak induced dipole moment even under strong electric fields. The dynamics and reaction rates of species are studied by means of large-scale combustion simulations of n-dodecane and oxygen mixtures. Results show that under strong electric fields, the fuel, oxidizer, and most product molecules experience translational and rotational acceleration mainly due to close charge transfer along with a reduction in their vibrational energy due to stabilization. This study will serve as a basis to improve the current methods used in MD and to develop novel methodologies for the modeling of macroscale reacting flows under external electrostatic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efstratios M Kritikos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Aditya Lele
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Adri C T van Duin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Andrea Giusti
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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Sala EM, Mazzanti N, Chiabrera FM, Sanna S, Mogensen MB, Hendriksen PV, Ma Z, Simonsen SB, Chatzichristodoulou C. Unravelling the role of dopants in the electrocatalytic activity of ceria towards CO 2 reduction in solid oxide electrolysis cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:3457-3471. [PMID: 36637049 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp05157e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
CO2 reduction in Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOECs) is a key-technology for the transition to a sustainable energy infrastructure and chemical industry. Ceria (CeO2) holds great promise in developing highly efficient, cost-effective and durable fuel electrodes, due to its promising electrocatalytic properties, and proven ability to suppress carbon deposition and to tolerate high concentrations of impurities. In the present work, we investigate the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity of ceria towards CO2 reduction by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) on model systems with well-defined geometry, composition and surface area. Aiming at the optimization of the intrinsic catalytic properties of the material, we systematically study the effect of different dopants (Zr, Gd, Pr and Bi) on the reaction rate under varying operating conditions (temperature, gas composition and applied polarization) relevant for SOECs. The electrochemical measurements reveal the dominant role of the surface defect chemistry of the material in the reaction rate, with doping having only a mild effect on the rate and activation energy of the reaction. By analyzing the pO2 and overpotential dependence of the reaction rate with a general micro-kinetic model, we are able to identify the second electron transfer as the rate limiting step of the process, highlighting the dominant role of surface polarons in the energy landscape. These insights on the correlation between the surface defects and the electrocatalytic activity of ceria open new directions for the development of highly performing ceria-based technological electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Marzia Sala
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Nicola Mazzanti
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Francesco M Chiabrera
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Simone Sanna
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Mogens B Mogensen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Peter V Hendriksen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Zhongtao Ma
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Søren B Simonsen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Christodoulos Chatzichristodoulou
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej, Building 310, DK-2800, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
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