1
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Ma Y, Huang J, Gao S, Li L, Yi Z, Xiao D, Chan CKK, Wang B, Pan D, Chen Q. Super-Concentrated Alkali Hydroxide Electrolytes for Rechargeable Zn Batteries. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2025; 64:e202425261. [PMID: 39972096 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202425261] [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: 12/24/2024] [Revised: 02/17/2025] [Accepted: 02/18/2025] [Indexed: 02/21/2025]
Abstract
Increasing the salt concentration of an electrolyte to over 10 M brings new solute-solvent interactions that define an emerging class of super-concentrated electrolytes for rechargeable batteries. To this class we introduce a super-concentrated alkaline electrolyte. Nearly saturated with KOH (at 15 M), the aqueous solution displays a broad electrochemical stability window (>2.5 V on Au) while retaining an exceptionally high ionic conductivity (>0.27 S/cm at 25 °C). Without a solid-electrolyte interphase, we can confirm the role of electron transfer kinetics in determining the stability as opposed to the thermodyanmic effect computed based on activity coefficients. The compositionally simple solution also allows spectroscopies and ab-initio molecular dynamics simulation to identify a novel mechanism of OH- structural diffusion, where unlike the conventional Grotthuss mechanism through hydrogen-bond networks, electrostatic forces sustain proton hopping and break the common stability-conductivity tradeoff. A high ZnO solubility in the electrolyte further mitigate the issue of passivation when a Zn anode is deeply discharged. These unique properties enable a NiOOH||Zn battery to deliver a cumulative capacity >10 Ah/cm2 at 40 mA/cm2 to meet practical needs of safe, inexpensive energy storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Ma
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Jiajia Huang
- Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Shengyong Gao
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Liangyu Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Zhibin Yi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Diwen Xiao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Cheuk Kai Kevin Chan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Bin Wang
- GP Technology & Innovation Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Ding Pan
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P. R. China
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2
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Wu Q, Xu ZJ. Mechanistic Insights into Cation Effects in Electrolytes for Electrocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2025:e202505022. [PMID: 40247668 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202505022] [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: 03/03/2025] [Revised: 04/03/2025] [Accepted: 04/17/2025] [Indexed: 04/19/2025]
Abstract
Traditional understanding of electrocatalytic reactions has primarily focused on the covalent interactions between adsorbates and catalyst surfaces, often overlooking the significant influence of the electrolyte on the catalytic process. Recently, researchers have highlighted the pivotal role of cations in the electrolyte, demonstrating their capability to modulate the reaction pathways and thus the activity and selectivity. These findings underscore the need for a deeper, atomic-level understanding of the electrode-electrolyte interface. This perspective presents the mechanisms through which cations affect electrocatalysis, with a focus on the hydrogen-bond network, the adsorption behavior of reaction intermediates, the electric field within the electrochemical double layer, and the local electronic properties of catalysts. It provides a summary of the influences of cations on various electrocatalytic reactions, including hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), nitrate reduction reaction (NO3 -RR), and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). At the end, future research directions are provided to maximize the potential of leveraging the cation effects in the design of more efficient electrolyte systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wu
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Zhichuan J Xu
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Center for Advanced Catalysis Science and Technology, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
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3
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Wang M, Yan C, Liu T, Wang S, Liao Z, Guo F, Wang Q, Li Z, Wang G. Enhancing Built-In Electric Field via Balancing Interfacial Atom Orbit Hybridization at Boride@Sulfide Heterostructure for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2025:e202425657. [PMID: 40232201 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202425657] [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: 12/31/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2025] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 04/16/2025]
Abstract
Exploring nonprecious metal-based catalysts for cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has facilitated the realization of hydrogen economy toward water electrolysis in alkaline media. However, the difficult water dissociation process for the Volmer step (H2O → H* + OH*) and the subsequent unsuitable OH* adsorption energy on nonprecious metal-based catalysts severely reduce the kinetics of HER. Herein, the universal synthesis for a series of transition metal (Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W)-based boride@sulfide heterostructured catalysts is realized by using the molten-salt method to conduct the in situ boronization of commercial sulfides. Significantly, WB2@WS2 heterostructured catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity and stability for HER. Balancing interfacial atom orbit hybridization between W(d)-B(s,p) and W(d)-S(s,p) at WB2@WS2 heterostructured interface enhances the built-in electric field. In situ Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculation results reveal that the strong built-in electric field in WB2@WS2 optimizes the adsorption and desorption of OH* intermediate, reducing the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (OH* desorption step), and thus favoring the enhancement of catalytic performance toward HER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian, 116028, China
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Chuanchuan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
- College of Energy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tianfu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Ziqi Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
- College of Energy, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Feifan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Polyoxometalate and Reticular Material Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian, 116028, China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Guoxiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
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4
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Wan C, Zhang Z, Wang S, Sun Q, Liu E, Pu H, Zhang A, Chen Z, Shah AH, Fu X, Alexandrova AN, Jia Q, Huang Y, Duan X. Reorganizing the Pt Surface Water Structure for Highly Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction. J Am Chem Soc 2025; 147:12162-12169. [PMID: 40130907 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c00775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2025]
Abstract
The hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in alkaline electrolytes exhibits markedly slower kinetics than that in acidic electrolytes. This poses a critical challenge for alkaline exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). The slower kinetics in alkaline electrolytes is often attributed to the more sluggish Volmer step (hydrogen desorption). It has been shown that the alkaline HOR activity on the Pt surface can be considerably enhanced by the presence of oxophilic transition metals (TMs) and surface-adsorbed hydroxyl groups on TMs (TM-OHad), although the exact role of TM-OHad remains a topic of active debates. Herein, using single-atom Rh-tailored Pt nanowires as a model system, we demonstrate that hydroxyl groups adsorbed on the Rh sites (Rh-OHad) can profoundly reorganize the Pt surface water structure to deliver a record-setting alkaline HOR performance. In situ surface characterizations, together with theoretical studies, reveal that surface Rh-OHad could promote the oxygen-down water (H2O↓) that favors more hydrogen bond with Pt surface adsorbed hydrogen (H2O↓···Had-Pt) than the hydrogen-down water (OH2↓). The H2O↓ further serves as the bridge to facilitate the formation of an energetically favorable six-membered-ring transition structure with neighboring Pt-Had and Rh-OHad, thus reducing the Volmer step activation energy and boosting HOR kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengzhang Wan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Zisheng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Sibo Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Qiang Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ershuai Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Heting Pu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Ao Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Zhengyue Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Aamir Hassan Shah
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Xiaoyang Fu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Anastassia N Alexandrova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Qingying Jia
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Xiangfeng Duan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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5
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Li YC, Zhang XL, Tai XL, Yang XP, Yu PC, Dong SC, Chi LP, Wu ZZ, Zhang YC, Sun SP, Lu PG, Zhu L, Gao FY, Lin Y, Gao MR. Highly Tension-Strained Copper Concentrates Diluted Cations for Selective Proton-Exchange Membrane CO 2 Electrolysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2025; 64:e202422054. [PMID: 39807802 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202422054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2024] [Revised: 01/14/2025] [Accepted: 01/14/2025] [Indexed: 01/16/2025]
Abstract
Electrolysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) in acid offers a promising route to overcome CO2 loss in alkaline and neutral electrolytes, but requires concentrated alkali cations (typical ≥3 M) to mitigate the trade-off between low pH and high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) rate, causing salt precipitation. Here we report a strategy to resolve this problem by introducing tensile strain in a copper (Cu) catalyst, which can selectively reduce CO2 to valuable multicarbon products, particularly ethylene, in a pH 1 electrolyte with 1 M potassium ions. We find that the tension-strained Cu creates an electron-rich surface that concentrates diluted potassium ions, contributing to CO2 activation and HER suppression. With this catalyst, we show constant ethylene Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 44.3 % over 100 hours at 400 mA cm-2 and a cell voltage of 3.1 volts in a proton-exchange membrane electrolyser. Moreover, selective electrosynthesis of ethylene oxide using the as-produced ethylene was demonstrated in an integrated system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Cheng Li
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Tai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xue-Peng Yang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P. R. China
| | - Peng-Cheng Yu
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Shi-Chen Dong
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Li-Ping Chi
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi-Zheng Wu
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Yu-Cai Zhang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Shu-Ping Sun
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Pu-Gan Lu
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Fei-Yue Gao
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Yue Lin
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Min-Rui Gao
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
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6
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Patel DM, Kastlunger G. Non-Nernstian Effects in Theoretical Electrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2025; 125:3378-3400. [PMID: 40048413 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2025]
Abstract
Electrocatalysis is one of the principal pathways for the transition to sustainable chemistry, promising greater energy efficiency and reduced emissions. As the field has grown, our theoretical understanding has matured. The influence of the applied potential on reactivity has developed from the first-order predictions based on the Nernst equation to the implicit inclusion of second-order effects including the interaction of reacting species with the interfacial electric field. In this review, we explore these non-Nernstian field effects in electrocatalysis, aiming to both understand and exploit them through theory and computation. We summarize the critical distinction between Nernstian and non-Nernstian effects and outline strategies to address the latter in theoretical studies. Subsequently, we examine the specific energetic contributions of the latter on capacitive and faradaic processes separately. We also underscore the importance of considering non-Nernstian effects in catalyst screening and mechanistic analysis. Finally, we provide suggestions on how to experimentally unravel these effects, offering insights into practical approaches for advancing the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipam Manish Patel
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Georg Kastlunger
- Catalysis Theory Center, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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7
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Nkurunziza F, Dongare S, Chatterjee S, Shah B, Gautam M, Muchharla B, Kumar B, Janik MJ, Gurkan B, Sacci RL, Spurgeon JM. Alkali Cation Inhibition of Imidazolium-Mediated Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction on Silver. J Am Chem Soc 2025; 147:7564-7577. [PMID: 39984294 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c16635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2025]
Abstract
Imidazolium-based ionic liquids have led to enhanced CO2 electroreduction activity due to cation effects at the cathode surface, stabilizing the reaction intermediates and decreasing the activation energy. In aqueous media, alkali cations are also known to improve CO2 reduction activity on metals such as Ag, with the enhancement attributed to electrical double layer effects and trending with the size of the alkali cation. However, the effect of a mixed catholyte solution of alkali cations in the presence of an imidazolium-based ionic liquid has not been well-explored. Herein, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [EMIM][BF4], in water was investigated with alkali salts to unravel the interaction effects for CO2 electroreduction on Ag. Although both [EMIM]+ and alkali cations have individually improved CO2 to CO conversion on Ag in water, electrochemical results showed that alkali cations hindered imidazolium-mediated CO2 electroreduction in most conditions. Li+, in particular, was sharply inhibitory compared to other alkali cations and strongly redirected the selectivity to hydrogen evolution. The nature of the alkali cation inhibition was investigated with spectroscopic techniques, including in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (DEIS). Along with computational insights from density functional theory (DFT), the electrochemical and spectroscopic data suggest that alkali cations inhibit [EMIM]-mediated CO2 reduction by competing for surface adsorption sites, preventing the potential-dependent structural reorientation of imidazolium, and promoting hydrogen evolution by bringing solvated water to the cathode surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Nkurunziza
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
| | - Saudagar Dongare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Soumya Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Bhavi Shah
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
| | - Manu Gautam
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
| | - Baleeswaraiah Muchharla
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Technology, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, United States
| | - Bijandra Kumar
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Technology, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, United States
| | - Michael J Janik
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Burcu Gurkan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Robert L Sacci
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Joshua M Spurgeon
- Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
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8
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Mao J, Liang J, Li Y, Liu X, Ma F, Liu S, Ouyang H, Cai Z, Wang T, Zhao Y, Huang Y, Li Q. Electrochemical Lithiation Regulates the Active Hydrogen Supply on Ru-Sn Nanowires for Hydrogen Evolution Toward the High-Performing Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer. J Am Chem Soc 2025; 147:7711-7720. [PMID: 39983047 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c17373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2025]
Abstract
Designing a rational electrocatalyst/electrolyte interface with superb active hydrogen supply is of significant importance for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs). Here, we propose a strategy to tune the interfacial active hydrogen supply via inducing dissoluble cation into electrocatalysts to boost HER in alkali, with electrochemical lithiated sub-2 nm RuSn0.8 nanowires (NWs) as a proof of concept. It is found that a part of Li+ could dissolve in situ from lithiated RuSn0.8 NWs during HER, which tends to affect the interfacial structure and facilitate the proton transport. Among all the Li-Ru-Sn and Ru-Sn NWs, the best-performing Li3.0RuSn0.8 NWs exhibit the lowest initial overpotential of 66 mV at 100 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH, which could be further reduced to 38 mV after the 30 000 cycles accelerated stability test (AST). In situ Raman spectroscopy and operando X-ray adsorption spectroscopy indicate that the pristine Li3.0RuSn0.8 NWs are highly active toward water dissociation and the dissolved Li+ during AST could further enhance the flexibility of the hydrogen bond network for proton transportation. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations disclose that the incorporation of Li into the Ru-Sn lattice is beneficial to lower the water dissociation barrier, while dissolved Li+ at the interface significantly increases the population of interfacial water molecules, thereby providing sufficient active hydrogens for H2 production. The AEMWE equipped with the Li3.0RuSn0.8 NWs cathode delivers an extremely low cell voltage (1.689 V) at an industrial-scale current density (1 A cm-2) and outstanding stability (56 μV h-1 loss at 1 A cm-2 after 1000 h galvanostatic test), representing one of the best alkaline HER electrocatalysts ever reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialun Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jiashun Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Yunan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Feng Ma
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Coal Conversion and New Carbon Materials Hubei Key Laboratory, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Shuxia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hao Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Zhao Cai
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Tanyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Yufei Zhao
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Yunhui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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9
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Li P, Jiang YL, Men Y, Jiao YZ, Chen S. Kinetic cation effect in alkaline hydrogen electrocatalysis and double layer proton transfer. Nat Commun 2025; 16:1844. [PMID: 39984483 PMCID: PMC11845716 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56966-9] [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: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2025] [Indexed: 02/23/2025] Open
Abstract
Unveiling the so far ambiguous mechanism of the significant dependence on the identity of alkali metal cation would prompt opportunities to solve the more than two orders of magnitude slowdown of hydrogen electrocatalytic kinetics in base relative to acid, which has hampered the effort to reduce the precious metal usage in fuel cells by using the hydroxide exchange membrane. Herein, we present atomic-scale evidences from ab-initio molecular dynamics simulation and in-situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy which show that it is the apparent discrepancies in the electric double-layer structures induced by differently sized cations that lead to largely different interfacial proton transfer barriers and therefore hydrogen electrocatalytic kinetics in base. Concretely, severe accumulation of larger cation in electric double-layer causes more discontinuous interfacial water distribution and H-bond network, thus rendering the proton transfer from bulk to interface more obstructed. Such notion is strikingly different from the previously envisioned impact of cation-intermediate interactions on the energetics of surface steps, providing a unique interfacial perspective for understanding the ubiquitous cation specificity in electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ya-Ling Jiang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yana Men
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Zhou Jiao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shengli Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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10
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Gisbert-González J, Rodellar CG, Druce J, Ortega E, Cuenya BR, Oener SZ. Bias Dependence of the Transition State of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. J Am Chem Soc 2025; 147:5472-5485. [PMID: 39900519 PMCID: PMC11826909 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c18638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2025] [Accepted: 01/27/2025] [Indexed: 02/05/2025]
Abstract
The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the most prominent electrocatalytic reactions of green energy transition. However, the kinetics across materials and electrolyte pH and the impact of hydrogen coverage at high current densities remain poorly understood. Here, we study the HER kinetics over a large set of nanoparticle catalysts in industrially relevant acidic and alkaline membrane electrode assemblies that are only operated with pure water humidified gases. We discover distinct kinetic fingerprints between the iron triad (Fe, Ni, Co), coinage (Au, Cu, Ag), and platinum group metals (Ir, Pt, Pd, Rh). Importantly, the applied bias changes not only the activation energy (EA) but also the pre-exponential factor (A). We interpret these changes as entropic changes in the interfacial solvent that differ between acid and base and entropic changes on the surface due to a changing hydrogen coverage. Finally, we observe that anions can induce Butler-Volmer behavior for the coinage metals in acid. Our results provide a new foundation to understand HER kinetics and, more broadly, highlight the pressing need to update common understanding of basic concepts in the field of electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jody Druce
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Eduardo Ortega
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Sebastian Z. Oener
- Department of Interface Science, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Berlin 14195, Germany
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11
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Wang T, Iriawan H, Peng J, Rao RR, Huang B, Zheng D, Menga D, Aggarwal A, Yuan S, Eom J, Zhang Y, McCormack K, Román-Leshkov Y, Grossman J, Shao-Horn Y. Confined Water for Catalysis: Thermodynamic Properties and Reaction Kinetics. Chem Rev 2025; 125:1420-1467. [PMID: 39902648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2025]
Abstract
Water is a salient component in catalytic systems and acts as a reactant, product and/or spectator species in the reaction. Confined water in distinct local environments can display significantly different behaviors from that of bulk water. Therefore, the wide-ranging chemistry of confined water can provide tremendous opportunities to tune the reaction kinetics. In this review, we focus on drawing the connection between confined water properties and reaction kinetics for heterogeneous (electro)catalysis. First, the properties of confined water are presented, where the enthalpy, entropy, and dielectric properties of water can be regulated by tuning the geometry and hydrophobicity of the cavities. Second, experimental and computational studies that investigate the interactions between water and inorganic materials, such as carbon nanotubes (1D confinement), charged metal or metal oxide surfaces (2D), zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (3D) and ions/solvent molecules (0D), are reviewed to demonstrate the opportunity to create confined water structures with unique H-bonding network properties. Third, the role of H-bonding structure and dynamics in governing the activation free energy, reorganization energy and pre-exponential factor for (electro)catalysis are discussed. We highlight emerging opportunities to enhance proton-coupled electron transfer by optimizing interfacial H-bond networks to regulate reaction kinetics for the decarbonization of chemicals and fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Haldrian Iriawan
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jiayu Peng
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Reshma R Rao
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
- Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Botao Huang
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Daniel Zheng
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Davide Menga
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Abhishek Aggarwal
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John Eom
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Yirui Zhang
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Kaylee McCormack
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Yuriy Román-Leshkov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jeffrey Grossman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Yang Shao-Horn
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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12
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Do VH, Lee JM. Transforming Adsorbate Surface Dynamics in Aqueous Electrocatalysis: Pathways to Unconstrained Performance. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2025:e2417516. [PMID: 39871686 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202417516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2024] [Revised: 01/05/2025] [Indexed: 01/29/2025]
Abstract
Developing highly efficient catalysts to accelerate sluggish electrode reactions is critical for the deployment of sustainable aqueous electrochemical technologies, yet remains a great challenge. Rationally integrating functional components to tailor surface adsorption behaviors and adsorbate dynamics would divert reaction pathways and alleviate energy barriers, eliminating conventional thermodynamic constraints and ultimately optimizing energy flow within electrochemical systems. This approach has, therefore, garnered significant interest, presenting substantial potential for developing highly efficient catalysts that simultaneously enhance activity, selectivity, and stability. The immense promise and rapid evolution of this design strategy, however, do not overshadow the substantial challenges and ambiguities that persist, impeding the realization of significant breakthroughs in electrocatalyst development. This review explores the latest insights into the principles guiding the design of catalytic surfaces that enable favorable adsorbate dynamics within the contexts of hydrogen and oxygen electrochemistry. Innovative approaches for tailoring adsorbate-surface interactions are discussed, delving into underlying principles that govern these dynamics. Additionally, perspectives on the prevailing challenges are presented and future research directions are proposed. By evaluating the core principles and identifying critical research gaps, this review seeks to inspire rational electrocatalyst design, the discovery of novel reaction mechanisms and concepts, and ultimately, advance the large-scale implementation of electroconversion technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viet-Hung Do
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
- Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Singapore, 637141, Singapore
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637459, Singapore
- Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N), Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Singapore, 637141, Singapore
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13
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Yue J, Li Y, Yang C, Luo W. Hydroxyl-Binding Induced Hydrogen Bond Network Connectivity on Ru-based Catalysts for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Electrocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2025; 64:e202415447. [PMID: 39449645 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202415447] [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: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 10/07/2024] [Accepted: 10/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the role of adsorbed intermediates at the polarized catalyst-electrolyte interface on the structure of electrical double layer (EDL) is essential for developing highly efficient electrocatalysts. Here, we prepared a series of unconventional face-centered-cubic (fcc) phase Ru-based catalysts (i.e. fcc-Ru, fcc-RuCr, and fcc-RuCrW) by rational tuning the binding energetics of hydroxyl intermediate to engineer the electrochemical interface and boost the performance of alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). The introduction of oxyphilic metals Cr and W can regulate the orbital occupation of Ru, promote the adsorption of hydroxyl species, resulting in an anomalous behavior that HOR performance under alkaline media exceeds acidic media. Experimental results and theoretical calculations unravel that the modulated adsorption of hydroxyl species on the electrode surface are responsible for the reconstruction of interfacial water structure and dynamic evolution of free water molecules from nearest to the electrode surface to above the gap region in the EDL, thereby leading to significantly increased water connectivity and hydrogen bond network. Our work reveals a new understanding of the surface intermediates in controlling the dynamic process of interfacial water and hydrogen bonding network in HOR electrocatalysis, and will guide rational design of advanced electrocatalysts through electrochemical interfacial engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchao Yue
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Yunbo Li
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Chaoyi Yang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
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14
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Men Y, Tan Y, Li P, Jiang Y, Li L, Su X, Men X, Sun X, Chen S, Luo W. Boosting Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Kinetics through Interfacial Environments Induced Surface Migration of Adsorbed Hydroxyl. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202411341. [PMID: 39396925 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202411341] [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: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 09/29/2024] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Constructing bifunctional sites through heterojunction engineering to accelerate water formation has become a pivotal strategy to improve the alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics, which is mainly focused on the synergistic effect of neighboring sites and the energetics of the surface reaction steps. However, the roles of the surface migration of key intermediates that go beyond the bifunctional mechanism limited to neighboring atoms have usually been ignored. Using the heterostructured Ni3C-Ni catalyst as a model, we found that the rapid surface migration of OHad species from the positively charged Ni3C to the negatively charged Ni component played a decisive role in facilitating water formation. Such unprecedented surface migration of OHad is induced by the large discrepancy between the local surface charge densities and interfacial environments of the Ni3C and Ni components under operating conditions. Benefiting from this, the resultant Ni3C-Ni exhibited outstanding mass activity for the alkaline HOR, which was approximately 19-fold and 21-fold higher than those of Ni and Ni3C, respectively. These findings not only provide novel insights into the alkaline HOR mechanism of heterostructured catalysts but also open new avenues for developing advanced electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Men
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
- Suzhou Institute of Wuhan University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Yue Tan
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Peng Li
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Yaling Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Lei Li
- Core Facility of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Xiaozhi Su
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xiaomei Men
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Xueping Sun
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Shengli Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
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15
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Du S, Zhou Y, Tao L, Wang S, Liu ZQ. Hydrogen Electrode Reactions in Energy-Related Electrocatalysis Systems. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202400714. [PMID: 38859756 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202400714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogen electrode reactions, including hydrogen evolution reactions and hydrogen oxidation reactions, are fundamental and crucial within aqueous electrochemistry. Particularly in energy-related electrocatalysis processes, there is a consistent involvement of hydrogen-related electrochemical processes, underscoring the need for in-depth study. This review encompasses significant reports, delving into elementary steps and reaction mechanisms of hydrogen electrode reactions, as well as catalyst design strategies. In addition, we focus on the application of hydrogen electrode reaction mechanism in different energy-related electrocatalytic reactions, and the significance of the promotion and suppression of reaction kinetics in different reaction systems. It thoroughly elucidated the significance of these reactions and the need for a deeper understanding, offering a novel perspective for the future development of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqian Du
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Yangyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Li Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Shuangyin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Zhao-Qing Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clean Energy and Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
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16
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Schott C, Schneider PM, Song KT, Yu H, Götz R, Haimerl F, Gubanova E, Zhou J, Schmidt TO, Zhang Q, Alexandrov V, Bandarenka AS. How to Assess and Predict Electrical Double Layer Properties. Implications for Electrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2024; 124:12391-12462. [PMID: 39527623 PMCID: PMC11613321 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
The electrical double layer (EDL) plays a central role in electrochemical energy systems, impacting charge transfer mechanisms and reaction rates. The fundamental importance of the EDL in interfacial electrochemistry has motivated researchers to develop theoretical and experimental approaches to assess EDL properties. In this contribution, we review recent progress in evaluating EDL characteristics such as the double-layer capacitance, highlighting some discrepancies between theory and experiment and discussing strategies for their reconciliation. We further discuss the merits and challenges of various experimental techniques and theoretical approaches having important implications for aqueous electrocatalysis. A strong emphasis is placed on the substantial impact of the electrode composition and structure and the electrolyte chemistry on the double-layer properties. In addition, we review the effects of temperature and pressure and compare solid-liquid interfaces to solid-solid interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian
M. Schott
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Peter M. Schneider
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Kun-Ting Song
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Haiting Yu
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Rainer Götz
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Felix Haimerl
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
- BMW
AG, Petuelring 130, 80809 München, Germany
| | - Elena Gubanova
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Jian Zhou
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Thorsten O. Schmidt
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Qiwei Zhang
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
- State
Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of
Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, People’s Republic of China
| | - Vitaly Alexandrov
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Nebraska Center for Materials
and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Aliaksandr S. Bandarenka
- Physics
of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
- Catalysis
Research Center, Technical University of
Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
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17
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Zhang XL, Yu PC, Sun SP, Shi L, Yang PP, Wu ZZ, Chi LP, Zheng YR, Gao MR. In situ ammonium formation mediates efficient hydrogen production from natural seawater splitting. Nat Commun 2024; 15:9462. [PMID: 39487190 PMCID: PMC11530463 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53724-1] [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: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 10/21/2024] [Indexed: 11/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Seawater electrolysis using renewable electricity offers an attractive route to sustainable hydrogen production, but the sluggish electrode kinetics and poor durability are two major challenges. We report a molybdenum nitride (Mo2N) catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction with activity comparable to commercial platinum on carbon (Pt/C) catalyst in natural seawater. The catalyst operates more than 1000 hours of continuous testing at 100 mA cm-2 without degradation, whereas massive precipitate (mainly magnesium hydroxide) forms on the Pt/C counterpart after 36 hours of operation at 10 mA cm-2. Our investigation reveals that ammonium groups generate in situ at the catalyst surface, which not only improve the connectivity of hydrogen-bond networks but also suppress the local pH increase, enabling the enhanced performances. Moreover, a zero-gap membrane flow electrolyser assembled by this catalyst exhibits a current density of 1 A cm-2 at 1.87 V and 60 oC in simulated seawater and runs steadily over 900 hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long Zhang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Yu
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shu-Ping Sun
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Peng-Peng Yang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi-Zheng Wu
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Li-Ping Chi
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Rong Zheng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Value-Added Catalytic Conversion and Reaction Engineering, Anhui Province Engineering Research Center of Flexible and Intelligent Materials, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Min-Rui Gao
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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18
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Zhu ZS, Zhong S, Cheng C, Zhou H, Sun H, Duan X, Wang S. Microenvironment Engineering of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Liquid-Phase Environmental Catalysis. Chem Rev 2024; 124:11348-11434. [PMID: 39383063 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2024]
Abstract
Environmental catalysis has emerged as a scientific frontier in mitigating water pollution and advancing circular chemistry and reaction microenvironment significantly influences the catalytic performance and efficiency. This review delves into microenvironment engineering within liquid-phase environmental catalysis, categorizing microenvironments into four scales: atom/molecule-level modulation, nano/microscale-confined structures, interface and surface regulation, and external field effects. Each category is analyzed for its unique characteristics and merits, emphasizing its potential to significantly enhance catalytic efficiency and selectivity. Following this overview, we introduced recent advancements in advanced material and system design to promote liquid-phase environmental catalysis (e.g., water purification, transformation to value-added products, and green synthesis), leveraging state-of-the-art microenvironment engineering technologies. These discussions showcase microenvironment engineering was applied in different reactions to fine-tune catalytic regimes and improve the efficiency from both thermodynamics and kinetics perspectives. Lastly, we discussed the challenges and future directions in microenvironment engineering. This review underscores the potential of microenvironment engineering in intelligent materials and system design to drive the development of more effective and sustainable catalytic solutions to environmental decontamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Shuai Zhu
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Austraia 5005, Australia
| | - Shuang Zhong
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Austraia 5005, Australia
| | - Cheng Cheng
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Austraia 5005, Australia
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Austraia 5005, Australia
| | - Hongqi Sun
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Xiaoguang Duan
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Austraia 5005, Australia
| | - Shaobin Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Austraia 5005, Australia
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19
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Jin Y, Fan X, Cheng W, Zhou Y, Xiao L, Luo W. The Role of Phosphorus on Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Electrocatalysis for Ruthenium Phosphides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202406888. [PMID: 39007540 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202406888] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Transition metal/p-block compounds are regarded as the most essential materials for electrochemical energy converting systems involving various electrocatalysis. Understanding the role of p-block element on the interaction of key intermediates and interfacial water molecule orientation at the polarized catalyst-electrolyte interface during the electrocatalysis is important for rational designing advanced p-block modified metal electrocatalysts. Herein, taking a sequence of ruthenium phosphides (including Ru2P, RuP and RuP2) as model catalysts, we establish a volcanic-relation between P-proportion and alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) activity. The dominant role of P for regulating hydroxyl binding energy is validated by active sites poisoning experiments, pH-dependent infection-point behavior, in situ surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations, in which P could tailor the d-band structure of Ru, optimize the hydroxyl adsorption sites across the Ru-P moieties, thereby leading to improved proportion of strongly hydrogen-bonded water and facilitated proton-coupled electron transfer process, which are responsible for the enhanced alkaline HOR performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Jin
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Xinran Fan
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Wenjing Cheng
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Yuheng Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Li Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P.R. China
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20
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Pan HR, Shi ZQ, Liu XZ, Jin S, Fu J, Ding L, Wang SQ, Li J, Zhang L, Su D, Ling C, Huang Y, Xu C, Tang T, Hu JS. Unconventional hcp/fcc Nickel Heteronanocrystal with Asymmetric Convex Sites Boosts Hydrogen Oxidation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202409763. [PMID: 38954763 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202409763] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Developing non-platinum group metal catalysts for the sluggish hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is critical for alkaline fuel cells. To date, Ni-based materials are the most promising candidates but still suffer from insufficient performance. Herein, we report an unconventional hcp/fcc Ni (u-hcp/fcc Ni) heteronanocrystal with multiple epitaxial hcp/fcc heterointerfaces and coherent twin boundaries, generating rugged surfaces with plenty of asymmetric convex sites. Systematic analyses discover that such convex sites enable the adsorption of *H in unusual bridge positions with weakened binding energy, circumventing the over-strong *H adsorption on traditional hollow positions, and simultaneously stabilizing interfacial *H2O. It thus synergistically optimizes the HOR thermodynamic process as well as reduces the kinetic barrier of the rate-determining Volmer step. Consequently, the developed u-hcp/fcc Ni exhibits the top-rank alkaline HOR activity with a mass activity of 40.6 mA mgNi -1 (6.3 times higher than fcc Ni control) together with superior stability and high CO-tolerance. These results provide a paradigm for designing high-performance catalysts by shifting the adsorption state of intermediates through configuring surface sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Rui Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Zhuo-Qi Shi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Zhi Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Shifeng Jin
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jiaju Fu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Liang Ding
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shu-Qi Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Linjuan Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Dong Su
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chongyi Ling
- School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Yucheng Huang
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Cailing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Tang Tang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Jin-Song Hu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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21
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Tian Y, Huang B, Song Y, Zhang Y, Guan D, Hong J, Cao D, Wang E, Xu L, Shao-Horn Y, Jiang Y. Effect of ion-specific water structures at metal surfaces on hydrogen production. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7834. [PMID: 39244565 PMCID: PMC11380671 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52131-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Water structures at electrolyte/electrode interfaces play a crucial role in determining the selectivity and kinetics of electrochemical reactions. Despite extensive experimental and theoretical efforts, atomic-level details of ion-specific water structures on metal surfaces remain unclear. Here we show, using scanning tunneling microscopy and noncontact atomic force microscopy, that we can visualize water layers containing alkali metal cations on a charged Au(111) surface with atomic resolution. Our results reveal that Li+ cations are elevated from the surface, facilitating the formation of an ice-like water layer between the Li+ cations and the surface. In contrast, K+ and Cs+ cations are in direct contact with the surface. We observe that the water network structure transitions from a hexagonal arrangement with Li+ to a distorted hydrogen-bonding configuration with Cs+. These observations are consistent with surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy data and suggest that alkali metal cations significantly impact hydrogen evolution reaction kinetics and efficiency. Our findings provide insights into ion-specific water structures on metal surfaces and underscore the critical role of spectator ions in electrochemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tian
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
| | - Botao Huang
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yizhi Song
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Department of Physics, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yirui Zhang
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dong Guan
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jiani Hong
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Duanyun Cao
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Enge Wang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, P. R. China
- Songshan Lake Materials Lab, Institute of Physics, CAS and School of Physics, Liaoning University, Shenyang, P. R. China
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Limei Xu
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
| | - Yang Shao-Horn
- Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Ying Jiang
- International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Light-Element Quantum Materials and Research Center for Light-Element Advanced Materials, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
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22
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Lin HH, Liang HI, Luo SC. Modulating Surface Cation Concentration via Tuning the Molecular Structures of Ethylene Glycol-Functionalized PEDOT for Improved Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction. JACS AU 2024; 4:3070-3083. [PMID: 39211622 PMCID: PMC11350742 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00409] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The sluggish catalytic kinetics of nonprecious metal-based electrocatalysts often hinder them from achieving efficient hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and its derivatives have been promising materials for various electrochemical applications. Nevertheless, previous studies have demonstrated that PEDOT coatings can be detrimental to HER performance. In this study, we investigated the alkaline HER efficiency of nickel foam coated with three types of ethylene glycol (EG)-functionalized EDOT. Specifically, EDOT derivatives bearing hydroxyl (-OH) and methoxy (-OCH3) end groups on the EG side chain and molecules containing two EDOT units are interconnected via EG moieties. EG groups are selected due to their strong interaction with alkali metal cations. Intriguingly, improved HER performance is observed on all electrodes coated with EG-functionalized EDOTs. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, and XPS analysis are employed to explore the origin of enhanced HER efficiency. The results suggest the EG moieties can induce locally concentrated ions near the electrode surface and facilitate water dissociation through noncovalent interactions. The influence of EG chain length is systematically investigated by synthesizing molecules with di-EG, tetra-EG, and hexa-EG functionalities. This study highlights the importance of molecular design in modifying electrode surface properties to promote alkaline HER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsun-Hao Lin
- Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-I Liang
- Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Shyh-Chyang Luo
- Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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23
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Clarke TB, Krushinski LE, Vannoy KJ, Colón-Quintana G, Roy K, Rana A, Renault C, Hill ML, Dick JE. Single Entity Electrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2024; 124:9015-9080. [PMID: 39018111 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Making a measurement over millions of nanoparticles or exposed crystal facets seldom reports on reactivity of a single nanoparticle or facet, which may depart drastically from ensemble measurements. Within the past 30 years, science has moved toward studying the reactivity of single atoms, molecules, and nanoparticles, one at a time. This shift has been fueled by the realization that everything changes at the nanoscale, especially important industrially relevant properties like those important to electrocatalysis. Studying single nanoscale entities, however, is not trivial and has required the development of new measurement tools. This review explores a tale of the clever use of old and new measurement tools to study electrocatalysis at the single entity level. We explore in detail the complex interrelationship between measurement method, electrocatalytic material, and reaction of interest (e.g., carbon dioxide reduction, oxygen reduction, hydrazine oxidation, etc.). We end with our perspective on the future of single entity electrocatalysis with a key focus on what types of measurements present the greatest opportunity for fundamental discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B Clarke
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Lynn E Krushinski
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Kathryn J Vannoy
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | | | - Kingshuk Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ashutosh Rana
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Christophe Renault
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60660, United States
| | - Megan L Hill
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jeffrey E Dick
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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24
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Zhu X, Huang J, Eikerling M. Hierarchical Modeling of the Local Reaction Environment in Electrocatalysis. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:2080-2092. [PMID: 39031075 PMCID: PMC11308366 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusElectrocatalytic reactions, such as oxygen reduction/evolution reactions and CO2 reduction reaction that are pivotal for the energy transition, are multistep processes that occur in a nanoscale electric double layer (EDL) at a solid-liquid interface. Conventional analyses based on the Sabatier principle, using binding energies or effective electronic structure properties such as the d-band center as descriptors, are able to grasp overall trends in catalytic activity in specific groups of catalysts. However, thermodynamic approaches often fail to account for electrolyte effects that arise in the EDL, including pH, cation, and anion effects. These effects exert strong impacts on electrocatalytic reactions. There is growing consensus that the local reaction environment (LRE) prevailing in the EDL is the key to deciphering these complex and hitherto perplexing electrolyte effects. Increasing attention is thus paid to designing electrolyte properties, positioning the LRE at center stage. To this end, unraveling the LRE is becoming essential for designing electrocatalysts with specifically tailored properties, which could enable much needed breakthroughs in electrochemical energy science.Theory and modeling are getting more and more important and powerful in addressing this multifaceted problem that involves physical phenomena at different scales and interacting in a multidimensional parametric space. Theoretical models developed for this purpose should treat intrinsic multistep kinetics of electrocatalytic reactions, EDL effects from subnm scale to the scale of 10 nm, and mass transport phenomena bridging scales from <0.1 to 100 μm. Given the diverse physical phenomena and scales involved, it is evident that the challenge at hand surpasses the capabilities of any single theoretical or computational approach.In this Account, we present a hierarchical theoretical framework to address the above challenge. It seamlessly integrates several modules: (i) microkinetic modeling that accounts for various reaction pathways; (ii) an LRE model that describes the interfacial region extending from the nanometric EDL continuously to the solution bulk; (iii) first-principles calculations that provide parameters, e.g., adsorption energies, activation barriers and EDL parameters. The microkinetic model considers all elementary steps without designating an a priori rate-determining step. The kinetics of these elementary steps are expressed in terms of local concentrations, potential and electric field that are codetermined by EDL charging and mass transport in the LRE model. Vital insights on electrode kinetic phenomena, i.e., potential-dependent Tafel slopes, cation effects, and pH effects, obtained from this hierarchical framework are then reviewed. Finally, an outlook on further improvement of the model framework is presented, in view of recent developments in first-principles based simulation of electrocatalysis, observations of dynamic reconstruction of catalysts, and machine-learning assisted computational simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwei Zhu
- Theory
and Computation of Energy Materials (IEK-13), Institute of Energy
and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Chair
of Theory and Computation of Energy Materials, Faculty of Georesources
and Materials Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jun Huang
- Theory
and Computation of Energy Materials (IEK-13), Institute of Energy
and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Theory
of Electrocatalytic Interfaces, Faculty of Georesources and Materials
Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Michael Eikerling
- Theory
and Computation of Energy Materials (IEK-13), Institute of Energy
and Climate Research, Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Chair
of Theory and Computation of Energy Materials, Faculty of Georesources
and Materials Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
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25
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Wang YH, Yang Y, Gao FY, Zhang XL, Zhu L, Yan HK, Yang PP, Gao MR. Unraveling Stoichiometry Effect in Nickel-Tungsten Alloys for Efficient Hydrogen Oxidation Catalysis in Alkaline Electrolytes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202407613. [PMID: 38736299 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202407613] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Anion-exchange membrane fuel cells provide the possibility to use platinum group metal-free catalysts, but the anodic hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) suffers from sluggish kinetics and its source is still debated. Here, over nickel-tungsten (Ni-W) alloy catalysts, we show that the Ni : W ratio greatly governs the HOR performance in alkaline electrolyte. Experimental and theoretical studies unravel that alloying with W can tune the unpaired electrons in Ni, tailoring the potential of zero charge and the catalytic surface to favor hydroxyl adsorption (OHad). The OHad species coordinately interact with potassium (K+) ions, which break the K+ solvation sheath to leave free water molecules, yielding an improved connectivity of hydrogen-bond networks. Consequently, the optimal Ni17W3 alloy exhibits alkaline HOR activity superior to the state-of-the-art platinum on carbon (Pt/C) catalyst and operates steadily with negligible decay after 10,000 cycles. Our findings offer new understandings of alloyed HOR catalysts and will guide rational design of next-generation catalysts for fuel cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Hua Wang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Fei-Yue Gao
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Long Zhang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Hui-Kun Yan
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Peng-Peng Yang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
| | - Min-Rui Gao
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China
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26
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Levell Z, Le J, Yu S, Wang R, Ethirajan S, Rana R, Kulkarni A, Resasco J, Lu D, Cheng J, Liu Y. Emerging Atomistic Modeling Methods for Heterogeneous Electrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8620-8656. [PMID: 38990563 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Heterogeneous electrocatalysis lies at the center of various technologies that could help enable a sustainable future. However, its complexity makes it challenging to accurately and efficiently model at an atomic level. Here, we review emerging atomistic methods to simulate the electrocatalytic interface with special attention devoted to the components/effects that have been challenging to model, such as solvation, electrolyte ions, electrode potential, reaction kinetics, and pH. Additionally, we review relevant computational spectroscopy methods. Then, we showcase several examples of applying these methods to understand and design catalysts relevant to green hydrogen. We also offer experimental views on how to bridge the gap between theory and experiments. Finally, we provide some perspectives on opportunities to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Levell
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Jiabo Le
- Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1219 Zhongguan West Road, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Saerom Yu
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Ruoyu Wang
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Sudheesh Ethirajan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Rachita Rana
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Ambarish Kulkarni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Joaquin Resasco
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Deyu Lu
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Jun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Laboratory of AI for Electrochemistry (AI4EC), Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yuanyue Liu
- Texas Materials Institute and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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27
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Fan J, Arrazolo LK, Du J, Xu H, Fang S, Liu Y, Wu Z, Kim JH, Wu X. Effects of Ionic Interferents on Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction: Mechanistic Insight. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:12823-12845. [PMID: 38954631 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate, a prevalent water pollutant, poses substantial public health concerns and environmental risks. Electrochemical reduction of nitrate (eNO3RR) has emerged as an effective alternative to conventional biological treatments. While extensive lab work has focused on designing efficient electrocatalysts, implementation of eNO3RR in practical wastewater settings requires careful consideration of the effects of various constituents in real wastewater. In this critical review, we examine the interference of ionic species commonly encountered in electrocatalytic systems and universally present in wastewater, such as halogen ions, alkali metal cations, and other divalent/trivalent ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-/CO32-, SO42-, and PO43-). Notably, we categorize and discuss the interfering mechanisms into four groups: (1) loss of active catalytic sites caused by competitive adsorption and precipitation, (2) electrostatic interactions in the electric double layer (EDL), including ion pairs and the shielding effect, (3) effects on the selectivity of N intermediates and final products (N2 or NH3), and (4) complications by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and localized pH on the cathode surface. Finally, we summarize the competition among different mechanisms and propose future directions for a deeper mechanistic understanding of ionic impacts on eNO3RR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Fan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Leslie K Arrazolo
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Jiaxin Du
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Huimin Xu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Fang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongbiao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Jae-Hong Kim
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States
| | - Xuanhao Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler & Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
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28
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Sarpey TK, Himmelreich AV, Song K, Gubanova EL, Bandarenka AS. The Electrocatalytic Activity of Au Electrodes Changes Significantly in Various Na +/K + Supporting Electrolyte Mixtures. SMALL SCIENCE 2024; 4:2400042. [PMID: 40212116 PMCID: PMC11934990 DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202400042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2025] Open
Abstract
The potential of maximum entropy (PME) is an indicator of extreme disorder at the electrode/electrolyte interface and can predict changes in catalytic activity within electrolytes of varying compositions. The laser-induced current transient technique is employed to evaluate the PME for Au polycrystalline (Aupc) electrodes immersed in Ar-saturated cation electrolyte mixtures containing potassium and sodium ions at pH = 8. Five cation ratios (0.5 M K2SO4:0.5 M Na2SO4 = 0:1, 0.25:0.75, 0.5:0.5, 0.75:0.25, and 1:0) are explored, considering earlier studies that unveil cation-dependent shifts at near-neutral pH. Moreover, for all electrolyte compositions, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is utilized to determine the double-layer capacitance (C DL), the minimum of which should be close to the potential of zero charge (PZC). By correlating cation molar ratios with the PMEs and PZCs, the impact on the model oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, assessed via the rotating disk electrode method, is analyzed. The results demonstrate a linear relationship between electrolyte cation mixtures and PME, while ORR activity exhibits an exponential trend. This observation validates the PME-activity link hypothesis, underscoring electrolyte components' pivotal role in tailoring interfacial properties for electrocatalytic systems. These findings introduce a new degree of freedom for designing optimal electrocatalytic systems by adjusting various electrolyte components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theophilus K. Sarpey
- Physics of Energy Conversion and StorageTUM School of Natural Sciences (Physik‐Department)Technical University of MunichJames‐Franck‐Str. 185748GarchingGermany
| | - Adrian V. Himmelreich
- Physics of Energy Conversion and StorageTUM School of Natural Sciences (Physik‐Department)Technical University of MunichJames‐Franck‐Str. 185748GarchingGermany
| | - Kun‐Ting Song
- Physics of Energy Conversion and StorageTUM School of Natural Sciences (Physik‐Department)Technical University of MunichJames‐Franck‐Str. 185748GarchingGermany
| | - Elena L. Gubanova
- Physics of Energy Conversion and StorageTUM School of Natural Sciences (Physik‐Department)Technical University of MunichJames‐Franck‐Str. 185748GarchingGermany
| | - Aliaksandr S. Bandarenka
- Physics of Energy Conversion and StorageTUM School of Natural Sciences (Physik‐Department)Technical University of MunichJames‐Franck‐Str. 185748GarchingGermany
- Catalysis Research Center TUMTechnical University of MunichErnst‐Otto‐Fischer‐Straße 185748GarchingGermany
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29
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Tetteh EB, Krysiak OA, Savan A, Kim M, Zerdoumi R, Chung TD, Ludwig A, Schuhmann W. Long-Range SECCM Enables High-Throughput Electrochemical Screening of High Entropy Alloy Electrocatalysts at Up-To-Industrial Current Densities. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301284. [PMID: 38155148 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
High-entropy alloys (HEAs), especially in the form of compositional complex solid solutions (CCSS), have gained attention in the field of electrocatalysis. However, exploring their vast composition space concerning their electrocatalytic properties imposes significant challenges. Scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) offers high-speed electrochemical analysis on surface areas with a lateral resolution down to tens of nm. However, high-precision piezo positioners often used for the motion of the tip limit the area of SECCM scans to the motion range of the piezo positioners which is typically a few tens of microns. To bridge this experimental gap, the study proposes a long-range SECCM system with a rapid gas-exchange environmental cell for high-throughput electrochemical characterization of 100 mm diameter HEA thin-film material libraries (ML) obtained by combinatorial co-sputtering. Due to the gas-liquid interface at the positioned SECCM droplet on the sample, high-throughput evaluation under industrial current density conditions becomes feasible. This allows the direct correlation between electrocatalytic activity and material composition with high statistical reliability. The multidimensional data obtained accelerates materials discovery, development, and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Batsa Tetteh
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Olga A Krysiak
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Alan Savan
- Chair for Materials Discovery and Interfaces, Institute for Materials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Moonjoo Kim
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ridha Zerdoumi
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Taek Dong Chung
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Alfred Ludwig
- Chair for Materials Discovery and Interfaces, Institute for Materials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
- Center for Interface-Dominated High-Performance Materials, ZGH; Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schuhmann
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
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30
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Zhang WY, Ma XY, Jiang TW, Xu X, Ni B, Chen B, Wang Y, Jiang K, Cai WB. Atomic Layer Deposition of TiO 2 on Si Window Enables In Situ ATR-SEIRAS Measurements in Strong Alkaline Electrolytes. Anal Chem 2024; 96:10111-10115. [PMID: 38869290 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The Si window is the most widely used internal reflection element (IRE) for electrochemical attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS), yet local chemical etching on Si by concentrated OH- anions bottlenecks the reliable application of this method in strong alkaline electrolytes. In this report, atomic layer deposition of a 25 nm nonconductive TiO2 barrier layer on the reflecting plane of a Si prism is demonstrated to address this challenge. In situ ATR-SEIRAS measurement on a Au film electrode with the Si/TiO2 composite IRE in 1 M NaOH reveals reversible global spectral features without spectral distortion at 1000-1300 cm-1, in stark contrast to those obtained with a bare Si window. By applying this structured ATR-SEIRAS, ethanol electrooxidation on a Pt/C catalyst in 1 and 5 M NaOH is explored, manifesting that such high pH values prevent the adsorption of as-formed acetate in the C2 pathway but not that of CO intermediate in the C1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Yi Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xian-Yin Ma
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Tian-Wen Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xindi Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Baoxin Ni
- Interdisciplinary Research Center, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Bin Chen
- YUNMAO Technology Co., Ltd, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Yunyu Wang
- YUNMAO Technology Co., Ltd, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Kun Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- Interdisciplinary Research Center, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wen-Bin Cai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
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31
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Antony LS, Monin L, Aarts M, Alarcon-Llado E. Unveiling Nanoscale Heterogeneities at the Bias-Dependent Gold-Electrolyte Interface. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:12933-12940. [PMID: 38591960 PMCID: PMC11099963 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Electrified solid-liquid interfaces (SLIs) are extremely complex and dynamic, affecting both the dynamics and selectivity of reaction pathways at electrochemical interfaces. Enabling access to the structure and arrangement of interfacial water in situ with nanoscale resolution is essential to develop efficient electrocatalysts. Here, we probe the SLI energy of a polycrystalline Au(111) electrode in a neutral aqueous electrolyte through in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy. We acquire potential-dependent maps of the local interfacial adhesion forces, which we associate with the formation energy of the electric double layer. We observe nanoscale inhomogeneities of interfacial adhesion force across the entire map area, indicating local differences in the ordering of the solvent/ions at the interface. Anion adsorption has a clear influence on the observed interfacial adhesion forces. Strikingly, the adhesion forces exhibit potential-dependent hysteresis, which depends on the local gold grain curvature. Our findings on a model electrode extend the use of scanning probe microscopy to gain insights into the local molecular arrangement of the SLI in situ, which can be extended to other electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mark Aarts
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 CC, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Alarcon-Llado
- AMOLF, Amsterdam 1098 XG, The Netherlands
- Van’t
Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University
of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1090, GD, The Netherlands
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32
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Tang B, Fang Y, Zhu S, Bai Q, Li X, Wei L, Li Z, Zhu C. Tuning hydrogen bond network connectivity in the electric double layer with cations. Chem Sci 2024; 15:7111-7120. [PMID: 38756806 PMCID: PMC11095383 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06904d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen bond (H-bond) network connectivity in electric double layers (EDLs) is of paramount importance for interfacial HER/HOR electrocatalytic processes. However, it remains unclear whether the cation-specific effect on H-bond network connectivity in EDLs exists. Herein, we report simulation evidence from ab initio molecular dynamics that cations at Pt(111)/water interfaces can tune the structure and the connectivity of H-bond networks in EDLs. As the surface charge density σ becomes more negative, we show that the connectivity of the H-bond networks in EDLs of the Na+ and Ca2+ systems decreases markedly; in stark contrast, the connectivity of the H-bond networks in EDLs of the Mg2+ system increases slightly. Further analysis revealed that the interplay between the hydration of cations and the interfacial water structure plays a key role in the connectivity of H-bond networks in EDLs. These findings highlight the key roles of cations in EDLs and electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Tang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Yeguang Fang
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology Beijing 100190 China
| | - Shuang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Qi Bai
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Xiaojiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Laiyang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui 230026 P. R. China
| | - Chongqin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University Beijing 100875 China
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33
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Nie W, Ren T, Zhao W, Yao B, Yuan W, Liu X, Abdullah, Zhang J, Liu Q, Zhang T, Tang S, He C, Fang Y, Li X. Electrochemical Generation of Te Vacancy Pairs in PtTe for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:21828-21837. [PMID: 38639177 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c01273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials are increasingly seen as potential catalysts due to their unique structures and unmatched properties. However, achieving precise synthesis of these remarkable materials and regulating their atomic and electronic structures at the most fundamental level to enhance their catalytic performance remain a significant challenge. In this study, we synthesized single-crystal bulk PtTe crystals via chemical vapor transport and subsequently produced atomically thin, large PtTe nanosheets (NSs) through electrochemical cathode intercalation. These NSs are characterized by a significant presence of Te vacancy pairs, leading to undercoordinated Pt atoms on their basal planes. Experimental and theoretical studies together reveal that Te vacancy pairs effectively optimize and enhance the electronic properties (such as charge distribution, density of states near the Fermi level, and d-band center) of the resultant undercoordinated Pt atoms. This optimization results in a significantly higher percentage of dangling O-H water, a decreased energy barrier for water dissociation, and an increased binding affinity of these Pt atoms to active hydrogen intermediates. Consequently, PtTe NSs featuring exposed and undercoordinated Pt atoms demonstrate outstanding electrocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reactions, significantly surpassing the performance of standard commercial Pt/C catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Nie
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China
| | - Taotao Ren
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Wen Zhao
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Bingqing Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
| | - Wenhao Yuan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Abdullah
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Jiaxun Zhang
- College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Qiyuan Liu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Tianqing Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Shangfeng Tang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Chi He
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Yiyun Fang
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Xinzhe Li
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
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34
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Zhu Z, Duan J, Chen S. Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Clean Energy Conversion: Recent Advances in Unlocking its Underlying Mechanisms. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309119. [PMID: 38126651 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Carbon neutrality is an important goal for humanity . As an eco-friendly technology, electrocatalytic clean energy conversion technology has emerged in the 21st century. Currently, metal-organic framework (MOF)-based electrocatalysis, including oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), are the mainstream energy catalytic reactions, which are driven by electrocatalysis. In this paper, the current advanced characterizations for the analyses of MOF-based electrocatalytic energy reactions have been described in details, such as density function theory (DFT), machine learning, operando/in situ characterization, which provide in-depth analyses of the reaction mechanisms related to the above reactions reported in the past years. The practical applications that have been developed for some of the responses that are of application values, such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water splitting have also been demonstrated. This paper aims to maximize the potential of MOF-based electrocatalysts in the field of energy catalysis, and to shed light on the development of current intense energy situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Soft Chemistry and Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Jingjing Duan
- Key Laboratory for Soft Chemistry and Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210094, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Key Laboratory for Soft Chemistry and Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210094, China
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35
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Hsu YS, Rathnayake ST, Waegele MM. Cation effects in hydrogen evolution and CO2-to-CO conversion: A critical perspective. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:160901. [PMID: 38651806 DOI: 10.1063/5.0201751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The rates of many electrocatalytic reactions can be strongly affected by the structure and dynamics of the electrochemical double layer, which in turn can be tuned by the concentration and identity of the supporting electrolyte's cation. The effect of cations on an electrocatalytic process depends on a complex interplay between electrolyte components, electrode material and surface structure, applied electrode potential, and reaction intermediates. Although cation effects remain insufficiently understood, the principal mechanisms underlying cation-dependent reactivity and selectivity are beginning to emerge. In this Perspective, we summarize and critically examine recent advances in this area in the context of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO2-to-CO conversion, which are among the most intensively studied and promising electrocatalytic reactions for the sustainable production of commodity chemicals and fuels. Improving the kinetics of the HER in base and enabling energetically efficient and selective CO2 reduction at low pH are key challenges in electrocatalysis. The physical insights from the recent literature illustrate how cation effects can be utilized to help achieve these goals and to steer other electrocatalytic processes of technological relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shen Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
| | - Sachinthya T Rathnayake
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
| | - Matthias M Waegele
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
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36
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Liu W, Xia M, Zhao C, Chong B, Chen J, Li H, Ou H, Yang G. Efficient ammonia synthesis from the air using tandem non-thermal plasma and electrocatalysis at ambient conditions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3524. [PMID: 38664388 PMCID: PMC11045753 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47765-9] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While electrochemical N2 reduction presents a sustainable approach to NH3 synthesis, addressing the emission- and energy-intensive limitations of the Haber-Bosch process, it grapples with challenges in N2 activation and competing with pronounced hydrogen evolution reaction. Here we present a tandem air-NOx-NOx--NH3 system that combines non-thermal plasma-enabled N2 oxidation with Ni(OH)x/Cu-catalyzed electrochemical NOx- reduction. It delivers a high NH3 yield rate of 3 mmol h-1 cm-2 and a corresponding Faradaic efficiency of 92% at -0.25 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in batch experiments, outperforming previously reported ones. Furthermore, in a flow mode concurrently operating the non-thermal plasma and the NOx- electrolyzer, a stable NH3 yield rate of approximately 1.25 mmol h-1 cm-2 is sustained over 100 h using pure air as the intake. Mechanistic studies indicate that amorphous Ni(OH)x on Cu interacts with hydrated K+ in the double layer through noncovalent interactions and accelerates the activation of water, enriching adsorbed hydrogen species that can readily react with N-containing intermediates. In situ spectroscopies and density functional theory (DFT) results reveal that NOx- adsorption and their hydrogenation process are optimized over the Ni(OH)x/Cu surface. This work provides new insights into electricity-driven distributed NH3 production using natural air at ambient conditions.
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Grants
- This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2020YFA0710000, G.Y.), Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U22A20391, G.Y.), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 22108214, 22078256, G.Y.), Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi (NO. 2023-CX-TD-26, G.Y.), and the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (B23025, G.Y.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Mengyang Xia
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Chao Zhao
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Ben Chong
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Jiahe Chen
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - He Li
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Honghui Ou
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China
| | - Guidong Yang
- A XJTU-Oxford International Joint Laboratory for Catalysis, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, China.
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37
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Liang C, Katayama Y, Tao Y, Morinaga A, Moss B, Celorrio V, Ryan M, Stephens IEL, Durrant JR, Rao RR. Role of Electrolyte pH on Water Oxidation for Iridium Oxides. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8928-8938. [PMID: 38526298 PMCID: PMC10996014 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the effect of noncovalent interactions of intermediates at the polarized catalyst-electrolyte interface on water oxidation kinetics is key for designing more active and stable electrocatalysts. Here, we combine operando optical spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) to probe the effect of noncovalent interactions on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of IrOx in acidic and alkaline electrolytes. Our results suggest that the active species for the OER (Ir4.x+-*O) binds much stronger in alkaline compared with acid at low coverage, while the repulsive interactions between these species are higher in alkaline electrolytes. These differences are attributed to the larger fraction of water within the cation hydration shell at the interface in alkaline electrolytes compared to acidic electrolytes, which can stabilize oxygenated intermediates and facilitate long-range interactions between them. Quantitative analysis of the state energetics shows that although the *O intermediates bind more strongly than optimal in alkaline electrolytes, the larger repulsive interaction between them results in a significant weakening of *O binding with increasing coverage, leading to similar energetics of active states in acid and alkaline at OER-relevant potentials. By directly probing the electrochemical interface with complementary spectroscopic techniques, our work goes beyond conventional computational descriptors of the OER activity to explain the experimentally observed OER kinetics of IrOx in acidic and alkaline electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiwu Liang
- Department of
Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW72AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Katayama
- Department
of Energy and Environmental Materials, SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific
and Industrial Research), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Osaka 567-0047, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yemin Tao
- Department of
Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW72AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Asuka Morinaga
- Department
of Energy and Environmental Materials, SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific
and Industrial Research), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Osaka 567-0047, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Benjamin Moss
- Department
of Chemistry, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, White city campus, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Verónica Celorrio
- Diamond
Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United
Kingdom
| | - Mary Ryan
- Department of
Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW72AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Ifan E. L. Stephens
- Department of
Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW72AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - James R. Durrant
- Department
of Chemistry, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, White city campus, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Reshma R. Rao
- Department of
Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW72AZ London, United Kingdom
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38
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Song KT, Zagalskaya A, Schott CM, Schneider PM, Garlyyev B, Alexandrov V, Bandarenka AS. Influence of Alkali Metal Cations on the Oxygen Reduction Activity of Pt 5Y and Pt 5Gd Alloys. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2024; 128:4969-4977. [PMID: 38567375 PMCID: PMC10983829 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Electrolyte species can significantly influence the electrocatalytic performance. In this work, we investigate the impact of alkali metal cations on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on active Pt5Gd and Pt5Y polycrystalline electrodes. Due to the strain effects, Pt alloys exhibit a higher kinetic current density of ORR than pure Pt electrodes in acidic media. In alkaline solutions, the kinetic current density of ORR for Pt alloys decreases linearly with the decreasing hydration energy in the order of Li+ > Na+ > K+ > Rb+ > Cs+, whereas Pt shows the opposite trend. To gain further insights into these experimental results, we conduct complementary density functional theory calculations considering the effects of both electrode surface strain and electrolyte chemistry. The computational results reveal that the different trends in the ORR activity in alkaline media can be explained by the change in the adsorption energy of reaction intermediates with applied surface strain in the presence of alkali metal cations. Our findings provide important insights into the effects of the electrolyte and the strain conditions on the electrocatalytic performance and thus offer valuable guidelines for optimizing Pt-based electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Ting Song
- Physik-Department
ECS, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, Garching D-85748, Germany
| | - Alexandra Zagalskaya
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
- Quantum
Simulations Group, Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Christian M. Schott
- Physik-Department
ECS, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, Garching D-85748, Germany
| | - Peter M. Schneider
- Physik-Department
ECS, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, Garching D-85748, Germany
| | - Batyr Garlyyev
- Physik-Department
ECS, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, Garching D-85748, Germany
| | - Vitaly Alexandrov
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
- Nebraska
Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University
of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Aliaksandr S. Bandarenka
- Physik-Department
ECS, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, Garching D-85748, Germany
- Catalysis
Research Center TUM, Ernst-Otto-Fischer-Straße 1, Garching
bei München 85748, Germany
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39
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Baidoun R, Liu G, Kim D. Recent advances in the role of interfacial liquids in electrochemical reactions. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:5903-5925. [PMID: 38440946 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr06092f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The interfacial liquid, situated in proximity to an electrode or catalyst, plays a vital role in determining the activity and selectivity of crucial electrochemical reactions, including hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution/reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction. Thus, there has been a growing interest in better understanding the behavior and the catalytic effect of its constituents. This minireview examines the impact of interfacial liquids on electrocatalysis, specifically the effects of water molecules and ionic species present at the interface. How the structure of interfacial water, distinct from the bulk, can affect charge transfer kinetics and transport of species is presented. Furthermore, how cations and anions (de)stabilize intermediates and transition states, compete for adsorption with reaction species, and act as local environment modifiers including pH and the surrounding solvent structure are described in detail. These effects can promote or inhibit reactions in various ways. This comprehensive exploration provides valuable insights for tailoring interfacial liquids to optimize electrochemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Baidoun
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Gexu Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dohyung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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40
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Shen L, Goyal A, Chen X, Koper MTM. Cation Effects on Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction on Pt Single-Crystal Electrodes in Alkaline Media. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:2911-2915. [PMID: 38451074 PMCID: PMC10945570 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The exact mechanism behind the cation-assisted hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) on platinum electrodes in alkaline media remains disputed. We show that the cation effects at platinum display a remarkable structure sensitivity: not only the H adsorption but also the HOR activity on (111) terrace sites are independent of the nature of cation and cation concentration. On (110) step sites, at low cation concentration and mildly alkaline media, cations promote the HOR, whereas at more alkaline pH and consequently higher near-surface cation concentrations, the HOR is inhibition by the cations. Moreover, the role of the cation on terrace-OHad is different from that on step-OHad, as can also be observed from the inhibition of the HOR current by terrace-OHad at higher potentials. These results suggest that near the onset potential, HOR mainly takes place on steps, but under diffusion-limited conditions at higher overpotential, HOR mainly takes place on terraces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linfan Shen
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Akansha Goyal
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- School
of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing
Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, P. R. China
| | - Marc T. M. Koper
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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41
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Hou J, Xu B, Lu Q. Influence of electric double layer rigidity on CO adsorption and electroreduction rate. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1926. [PMID: 38431637 PMCID: PMC10908862 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46318-4] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the structure of the electric double layer (EDL) is critical for designing efficient electrocatalytic processes. However, the interplay between reactant adsorbates and the concentrated ionic species within the EDL remains an aspect that has yet to be fully explored. In the present study, we employ electrochemical CO reduction on Cu as a model reaction to reveal the significant impact of EDL structure on CO adsorption. By altering the sequence of applying negative potential and elevating CO pressure, we discern two distinct EDL structures with varying cation density and CO coverage. Our findings demonstrate that the EDL comprising densely packed cations substantially hinders CO adsorption on the Cu as opposed to the EDL containing less compact cations. These two different EDL structures remained stable over the course of our experiments, despite their identical initial and final conditions, suggesting an insurmountable kinetic barrier present in between. Moreover, we show that the size and identity of cations play decisive roles in determining the properties of the EDL in CO electroreduction on Cu. This study presents a refined adaptation of the classical Gouy-Chapman-Stern model and highlights its catalytic importance, which bridges the mechanistic gap between the EDL structure and cathodic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Bingjun Xu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China.
| | - Qi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
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42
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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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43
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Zhao R, Li L, Wu Q, Li Q, Cui C. Key Role of Cations in Stabilizing Hydrogen Radicals for CO 2-to-CO Conversion via a Reverse Water-Gas Shift Reaction. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:1914-1920. [PMID: 38345623 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Electrochemically converting CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels in acidic media is argued as a promising energy- and carbon-efficient route. Although several key roles of alkali cations have been unveiled, the alkali cation trends for CO2 reduction remain largely elusive. With decreasing cation size from Cs+ to Li+, here we show that the apparent proton diffusion coefficient in 3.0 M Li+ is tens-fold lower than in 3.0 M K+ and 3.0 M Cs+ acidic electrolytes. Although Li+ has the strongest inhibition ability for proton transport, it acts the worst for both the CO2-to-CO conversion and partial current density on Au catalysts. Unexpectedly, K+ with a higher proton transport performs the best for CO2-to-CO conversion. We thus revisit the roles of alkali cations and find that hydrated K+ can stabilize hydrogen radicals benefiting CO2 conversion at the electrode interface while for Li+ this is not the case. This study proposes that cation-stabilized atomic hydrogen assists in activating CO2 via a reverse water-gas shift route under electrochemical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijuan Zhao
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Lei Li
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Qianbao Wu
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Qing Li
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - Chunhua Cui
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
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44
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Xue S, Chaudhary P, Nouri MR, Gubanova E, Garlyyev B, Alexandrov V, Bandarenka AS. Impact of Pt( hkl) Electrode Surface Structure on the Electrical Double Layer Capacitance. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:3883-3889. [PMID: 38316015 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The classical theory of the electrical double layer (EDL) does not consider the effects of the electrode surface structure on the EDL properties. Moreover, the best agreement between the traditional EDL theory and experiments has been achieved so far only for a very limited number of ideal systems, such as liquid metal mercury electrodes, for which it is challenging to operate with specific surface structures. In the case of solid electrodes, the predictive power of classical theory is often not acceptable for electrochemical energy applications, e.g., in supercapacitors, due to the effects of surface structure, electrode composition, and complex electrolyte contributions. In this work, we combine ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations and electrochemical experiments to elucidate the relationship between the structure of Pt(hkl) surfaces and the double-layer capacitance as a key property of the EDL. Flat, stepped, and kinked Pt single crystal facets in contact with acidic HClO4 media are selected as our model systems. We demonstrate that introducing specific defects, such as steps, can substantially reduce the EDL capacitances close to the potential of zero charge (PZC). Our AIMD simulations reveal that different Pt facets are characterized by different net orientations of the water dipole moment at the interface. That allows us to rationalize the experimentally measured (inverse) volcano-shaped capacitance as a function of the surface step density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Xue
- Physics of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
- Advanced Chemical Engineering and Energy Materials Research Center, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Payal Chaudhary
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Mohammad Reza Nouri
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Elena Gubanova
- Physics of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Batyr Garlyyev
- Physics of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Vitaly Alexandrov
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Aliaksandr S Bandarenka
- Physics of Energy Conversion and Storage, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
- Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer-Straße 1, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
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45
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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: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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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46
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Wang X, Liu X, Fang J, Wang H, Liu X, Wang H, Chen C, Wang Y, Zhang X, Zhu W, Zhuang Z. Tuning the apparent hydrogen binding energy to achieve high-performance Ni-based hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1137. [PMID: 38326293 PMCID: PMC10850486 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45370-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
High-performance platinum-group-metal-free alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction catalysts are essential for the hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells, which generally require high Pt loadings on the anode. Herein, we report a highly active hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst, NiCuCr, indicated by the hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cell with a high peak power density of 577 mW cm-2 (18 times as high as the Ni/C anode) and a stability of more than 150 h (a degradation rate slower by 7 times than the Ni/C anode). The spectroscopies demonstrate that the alloy effect from Cu weakens the hydrogen binding, and the surface Cr2O3 species enhance the interfacial water binding. Both effects bring an optimized apparent hydrogen binding energy and thus lead to the high hydrogen oxidation reaction performance of NiCuCr. These results suggest that the apparent hydrogen binding energy determines the hydrogen oxidation reaction performance and that its tuning is beneficial toward high electrocatalytic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingdong Wang
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
- Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, SINOPEC, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xuerui Liu
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jinjie Fang
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Houpeng Wang
- Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, SINOPEC, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xianwei Liu
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Haiyong Wang
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Chengjin Chen
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yongsheng Wang
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xuejiang Zhang
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhongbin Zhuang
- State Key Lab of Organic-Inorganic Composites and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Energy Environmental Catalysis, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.
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47
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Han P, Yang X, Wu L, Jia H, Chen J, Shi W, Cheng G, Luo W. A Highly-Efficient Boron Interstitially Inserted Ru Anode Catalyst for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2304496. [PMID: 37934652 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Developing high-performance electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is crucial for the commercialization of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Here, boron interstitially inserted ruthenium (B-Ru/C) is synthesized and used as an anode catalyst for AEMFC, achieving a peak power density of 1.37 W cm-2 , close to the state-of-the-art commercial PtRu catalyst. Unexpectedly, instead of the monotonous decline of HOR kinetics with pH as generally believed, an inflection point behavior in the pH-dependent HOR kinetics on B-Ru/C is observed, showing an anomalous behavior that the HOR activity under alkaline electrolyte surpasses acidic electrolyte. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations reveal that the upshifted d-band center of Ru after the intervention of interstitial boron can lead to enhanced adsorption ability of OH and H2 O, which together with the reduced energy barrier of water formation, contributes to the outstanding alkaline HOR performance with a mass activity of 1.716 mA µgPGM -1 , which is 13.4-fold and 5.2-fold higher than that of Ru/C and commercial Pt/C, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Han
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Xinyi Yang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Liqing Wu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Hongnan Jia
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Jingchao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, P. R. China
| | - Wenwen Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030001, P. R. China
| | - Gongzhen Cheng
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Wei Luo
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, P. R. China
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48
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Wu X, Tu WH, Veksha A, Chen W, Lisak G. Polyolefin-derived substrate-grown carbon nanotubes as binder-free electrode for hydrogen evolution in alkaline media. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 349:140769. [PMID: 38000550 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140769] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Switching from a linear mode of waste management to a circular loop by transforming plastic waste into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is a promising approach to current plastic waste treatment. One of the many applications of CNTs is its use for electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen evolution. Existing methods of CNTs-based hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrode fabrication involve additives like polymeric binders and additional steps to improve CNT dispersion, which are detrimental to the CNT structure and properties. The in-situ fabrication approach can potentially be a one-pot solution to HER electrode synthesis. In this study, polyolefins pyrolysis gas and a Co:Ni:Mg catalyst were used to fabricate binder-free CNTs-based electrodes on different substrates for HER. The study assessed CNT quality on conductive carbon paper, semiconductive silicon, and dielectric glass substrates, evaluating their HER performance in 1 M KOH. A mixture of hollow-core, bamboo-like, and cup-stacked arrangement nanotubes were synthesized on the substrates, with CNTs on glass and carbon paper substrates possessing better graphitization than CNTs grown on silicon. This is in agreement with HER performance, whereby the as-prepared electrodes required overpotentials of 267 mV, 241 mV, and 216 mV for silicon, glass, and carbon paper, respectively, to achieve 10 mA/cm2. Despite being poorly conductive, the glass substrate electrode achieved a lower overpotential than the silicon electrode. Additionally, the as-prepared silicon electrode faced a delamination issue likely attributed to the lower surface energy of the silicon substrate surface, demonstrating the weaker adhesion between the CNTs and silicon surface. The proposed approach thus showed that the in-situ fabricated electrodes performed better than separately synthesized CNTs prepared into electrodes by 27.4% and 14.2% for carbon paper and glass substrates, respectively. The improved performance of the as-prepared, binder-free electrodes can be linked to the lower charge-transfer resistance and reduced contact resistance between the CNTs and substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- XinYi Wu
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C), Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore
| | - Wei Han Tu
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C), Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Cleantech One, Singapore, 637141, Singapore
| | - Andrei Veksha
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C), Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, 637141, Singapore
| | - Wenqian Chen
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C), Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, 637141, Singapore
| | - Grzegorz Lisak
- Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C), Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Cleantech Loop, Clean Tech One, 637141, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore.
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49
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Xu P, Wang R, Zhang H, Carnevale V, Borguet E, Suntivich J. Cation Modifies Interfacial Water Structures on Platinum during Alkaline Hydrogen Electrocatalysis. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2426-2434. [PMID: 38228289 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The molecular details of an electrocatalytic interface play an essential role in the production of sustainable fuels and value-added chemicals. Many electrochemical reactions exhibit strong cation-dependent activities, but how cations affect reaction kinetics is still elusive. We report the effect of cations (K+, Li+, and Ba2+) on the interfacial water structure using second-harmonic generation (SHG) and classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The second- (χH2O(2)) and third-order (χH2O(3)) optical susceptibilities of water on Pt are smaller in the presence of Ba2+ compared to those of K+, suggesting that cations can affect the interfacial water orientation. MD simulation reproduces experimental SHG observations and further shows that the competition between cation hydration and interfacial water alignment governs the net water orientation. The impact of cations on interfacial water supports a cation hydration-mediated mechanism for hydrogen electrocatalysis; i.e., the reaction occurs via water dissociation followed by cation-assisted hydroxide/water exchange on Pt. Our study highlights the role of interfacial water in electrocatalysis and how innocent additives (such as cations) can affect the local electrochemical environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengtao Xu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
| | - Ruiyu Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Center for Complex Materials from First-Principles (CCM), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Haojian Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
| | - Vincenzo Carnevale
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Eric Borguet
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Center for Complex Materials from First-Principles (CCM), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Jin Suntivich
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
- Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
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50
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You X, Zhang D, Zhang XG, Li X, Tian JH, Wang YH, Li JF. Exploring the Cation Regulation Mechanism for Interfacial Water Involved in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by In Situ Raman Spectroscopy. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 16:53. [PMID: 38108934 PMCID: PMC10728385 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01285-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Interfacial water molecules are the most important participants in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Hence, understanding the behavior and role that interfacial water plays will ultimately reveal the HER mechanism. Unfortunately, investigating interfacial water is extremely challenging owing to the interference caused by bulk water molecules and complexity of the interfacial environment. Here, the behaviors of interfacial water in different cationic electrolytes on Pd surfaces were investigated by the electrochemistry, in situ core-shell nanostructure enhanced Raman spectroscopy and theoretical simulation techniques. Direct spectral evidence reveals a red shift in the frequency and a decrease in the intensity of interfacial water as the potential is shifted in the positively direction. When comparing the different cation electrolyte systems at a given potential, the frequency of the interfacial water peak increases in the specified order: Li+ < Na+ < K+ < Ca2+ < Sr2+. The structure of interfacial water was optimized by adjusting the radius, valence, and concentration of cation to form the two-H down structure. This unique interfacial water structure will improve the charge transfer efficiency between the water and electrode further enhancing the HER performance. Therefore, local cation tuning strategies can be used to improve the HER performance by optimizing the interfacial water structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqiu You
- School of Ocean Information Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Oceanic Information Perception and Intelligent Processing, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials, College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia-Guang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Media and Reactions, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Green Manufacturing of Fine Chemicals, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyu Li
- School of Ocean Information Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Oceanic Information Perception and Intelligent Processing, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-Hua Tian
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao-Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials, College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jian-Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials, College of Energy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China.
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China.
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