1
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Chen LX, Yano J. Deciphering Photoinduced Catalytic Reaction Mechanisms in Natural and Artificial Photosynthetic Systems on Multiple Temporal and Spatial Scales Using X-ray Probes. Chem Rev 2024; 124:5421-5469. [PMID: 38663009 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Utilization of renewable energies for catalytically generating value-added chemicals is highly desirable in this era of rising energy demands and climate change impacts. Artificial photosynthetic systems or photocatalysts utilize light to convert abundant CO2, H2O, and O2 to fuels, such as carbohydrates and hydrogen, thus converting light energy to storable chemical resources. The emergence of intense X-ray pulses from synchrotrons, ultrafast X-ray pulses from X-ray free electron lasers, and table-top laser-driven sources over the past decades opens new frontiers in deciphering photoinduced catalytic reaction mechanisms on the multiple temporal and spatial scales. Operando X-ray spectroscopic methods offer a new set of electronic transitions in probing the oxidation states, coordinating geometry, and spin states of the metal catalytic center and photosensitizers with unprecedented energy and time resolution. Operando X-ray scattering methods enable previously elusive reaction steps to be characterized on different length scales and time scales. The methodological progress and their application examples collected in this review will offer a glimpse into the accomplishments and current state in deciphering reaction mechanisms for both natural and synthetic systems. Looking forward, there are still many challenges and opportunities at the frontier of catalytic research that will require further advancement of the characterization techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin X Chen
- Chemical Science and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Junko Yano
- Molecular Biophysics & Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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2
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Thum L, Arztmann M, Zizak I, Grüneberger R, Steigert A, Grimm N, Wallacher D, Schlatmann R, Amkreutz D, Gili A. In situ cell for grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction on thin films in thermal catalysis. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2024; 95:033904. [PMID: 38446003 DOI: 10.1063/5.0179989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
A cell for synchrotron-based grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction at ambient pressures and moderate temperatures in a controlled gas atmosphere is presented. The cell is suited for the in situ study of thin film samples under catalytically relevant conditions. To some extent, in addition to diffraction, the cell can be simultaneously applied for x-ray reflectometry and fluorescence studies. Different domes enclosing the sample have been studied and selected to ensure minimum contribution to the diffraction patterns. The applicability of the cell is demonstrated using synchrotron radiation by monitoring structural changes of a 3 nm Pd thin film upon interaction with gas-phase hydrogen and during acetylene semihydrogenation at 150 °C. The cell allows investigation of very thin films under catalytically relevant conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Thum
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manuela Arztmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivo Zizak
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - René Grüneberger
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Steigert
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nico Grimm
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dirk Wallacher
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rutger Schlatmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
- HTW Berlin-University of Applied Sciences, 12459 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Amkreutz
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Albert Gili
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109 Berlin, Germany
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3
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Paparoni F, Alizon G, Zitolo A, Rezvani SJ, Di Cicco A, Magnan H, Fonda E. A novel electrochemical flow-cell for operando XAS investigations in X-ray opaque supports. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:3897-3906. [PMID: 38230576 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04701f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Improvement of electrochemical technologies is one of the most popular topics in the field of renewable energy. However, this process requires a deep understanding of the electrode-electrolyte interface behavior under operando conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is widely employed to characterize electrode materials, providing element-selective oxidation state and local structure. Several existing cells allow studies as close as possible to realistic operating conditions, but most of them rely on the deposition of the electrodes on conductive and X-ray transparent materials, from where the radiation impinges the sample. In this work, we present a new electrochemical flow-cell for operando XAS that can be used with X-ray opaque substrates, since the signal is effectively detected from the electrode surface, as the radiation passes through a thin layer of electrolyte (∼17 μm). The electrolyte can flow over the electrode, reducing bubble formation and avoiding strong reactant concentration gradients. We show that high-quality data can be obtained under operando conditions, thanks to the high efficiency of the cell from the hard X-ray regime down to ∼4 keV. We report as a case study the operando XAS investigation at the Fe and Ni K-edges on Ni-doped γ-Fe2O3 films, epitaxially grown on Pt substrates. The effect of the Ni content on the catalytic performances for the oxygen evolution reaction is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Paparoni
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, Départementale 128, 91190 Saint-Aubin, France.
- Sez. Fisica, Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologie, Universitá di Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri, I-62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Guillaume Alizon
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, Départementale 128, 91190 Saint-Aubin, France.
| | - Andrea Zitolo
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, Départementale 128, 91190 Saint-Aubin, France.
| | - Seyed Javad Rezvani
- Sez. Fisica, Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologie, Universitá di Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri, I-62032 Camerino, Italy
- CNR-IOM, SS14 - km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Cicco
- Sez. Fisica, Scuola di Scienze e Tecnologie, Universitá di Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri, I-62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Hélène Magnan
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Emiliano Fonda
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, Départementale 128, 91190 Saint-Aubin, France.
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4
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Ostervold L, Smerigan A, Liu MJ, Filardi LR, Vila FD, Perez-Aguilar JE, Hong J, Tarpeh WA, Hoffman AS, Greenlee LF, Clark EL, Janik MJ, Bare SR. Cation Incorporation into Copper Oxide Lattice at Highly Oxidizing Potentials. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:47025-47036. [PMID: 37756387 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Electrolyte cations can have significant effects on the kinetics and selectivity of electrocatalytic reactions. We show an atypical mechanism through which electrolyte cations can impact electrocatalyst performance─direct incorporation of the cation into the oxide electrocatalyst lattice. We investigate the transformations of copper electrodes in alkaline electrochemistry through operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy in KOH and Ba(OH)2 electrolytes. In KOH electrolytes, both the near-edge structure and extended fine-structure agree with previous studies; however, the X-ray absorption spectra vary greatly in Ba(OH)2 electrolytes. Through a combination of electronic structure modeling, near-edge simulation, and postreaction characterization, we propose that Ba2+ cations are directly incorporated into the lattice and form an ordered BaCuO2 phase at potentials more oxidizing than 200 mV vs the normal hydrogen electrode (NHE). BaCuO2 formation is followed by further oxidation to a bulk Cu3+-like BaxCuyOz phase at 900 mV vs NHE. Additionally, during reduction in Ba(OH)2 electrolyte, we find both Cu-O bonds and Cu-Ba scattering persist at potentials as low as -400 mV vs NHE. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence for direct oxidative incorporation of an electrolyte cation into the bulk lattice to form a mixed oxide electrode. The oxidative incorporation of electrolyte cations to form mixed oxides could open a new route for the in situ formation of active and selective oxidation electrocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Ostervold
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Adam Smerigan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Matthew J Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Leah R Filardi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Fernando D Vila
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Jorge E Perez-Aguilar
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Jiyun Hong
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - William A Tarpeh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Adam S Hoffman
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Lauren F Greenlee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Ezra Lee Clark
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Michael J Janik
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Simon R Bare
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
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5
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Blair SJ, Nielander AC, Stone KH, Kreider ME, Niemann VA, Benedek P, McShane EJ, Gallo A, Jaramillo TF. Development of a versatile electrochemical cell for in situ grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction during non-aqueous electrochemical nitrogen reduction. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2023; 30:917-922. [PMID: 37594864 PMCID: PMC10481268 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577523006331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
In situ techniques are essential to understanding the behavior of electrocatalysts under operating conditions. When employed, in situ synchrotron grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) can provide time-resolved structural information of materials formed at the electrode surface. In situ cells, however, often require epoxy resins to secure electrodes, do not enable electrolyte flow, or exhibit limited chemical compatibility, hindering the study of non-aqueous electrochemical systems. Here, a versatile electrochemical cell for air-free in situ synchrotron GI-XRD during non-aqueous Li-mediated electrochemical N2 reduction (Li-N2R) has been designed. This cell not only fulfills the stringent material requirements necessary to study this system but is also readily extendable to other electrochemical systems. Under conditions relevant to non-aqueous Li-N2R, the formation of Li metal, LiOH and Li2O as well as a peak consistent with the α-phase of Li3N was observed, thus demonstrating the functionality of this cell toward developing a mechanistic understanding of complicated electrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Blair
- Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Adam C. Nielander
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Kevin H. Stone
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Melissa E. Kreider
- Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Valerie A. Niemann
- Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Peter Benedek
- Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Eric J. McShane
- Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alessandro Gallo
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
- Research Department, Sila Nanotechnologies, 2470 Mariner Square Loop, Alameda, CA, USA
| | - Thomas F. Jaramillo
- Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
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6
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Abstract
Electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to valuable chemicals and fuels driven by renewable energy plays a crucial role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Understanding the structure-activity relationship and the reaction mechanism is significant for tuning electrocatalyst selectivity. Therefore, characterizing catalyst dynamic evolution and reaction intermediates under reaction conditions is necessary but still challenging. We first summarize the most recent progress in mechanistic understanding of heterogeneous CO2/CO reduction using in situ/operando techniques, including surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopies, X-ray- and electron-based techniques, and mass spectroscopy, along with discussing remaining limitations. We then offer insights and perspectives to accelerate the future development of in situ/operando techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjorn Hasa
- Center for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA;
| | - Yaran Zhao
- BNU-HKUST Laboratory of Green Innovation, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Feng Jiao
- Center for Catalytic Science and Technology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA;
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7
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Sheyfer D, Mariano RG, Kawaguchi T, Cha W, Harder RJ, Kanan MW, Hruszkewycz SO, You H, Highland MJ. Operando Nanoscale Imaging of Electrochemically Induced Strain in a Locally Polarized Pt Grain. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:1-7. [PMID: 36541700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Developing new methods that reveal the structure of electrode materials under polarization is key to constructing robust structure-property relationships. However, many existing methods lack the spatial resolution in structural changes and fidelity to electrochemical operating conditions that are needed to probe catalytically relevant structures. Here, we combine a nanopipette electrochemical cell with three-dimensional X-ray Bragg coherent diffractive imaging to study how strain in a single Pt grain evolves in response to applied potential. During polarization, marked changes in surface strain arise from the Coulombic attraction between the surface charge on the electrode and the electrolyte ions in the electrochemical double layers, while the strain in the bulk of the crystal remains unchanged. The concurrent surface redox reactions have a strong influence on the magnitude and nature of the strain changes under polarization. Our studies provide a powerful blueprint to understand how structural evolution influences electrochemical performance at the nanoscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Sheyfer
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Ruperto G Mariano
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California94305, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts02141, United States
| | - Tomoya Kawaguchi
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, 9808577, Japan
| | - Wonsuk Cha
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Ross J Harder
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Matthew W Kanan
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Stephan O Hruszkewycz
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Hoydoo You
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Matthew J Highland
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois60439, United States
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8
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Sun M, Staykov A, Yamauchi M. Understanding the Roles of Hydroxide in CO 2 Electroreduction on a Cu Electrode for Achieving Variable Selectivity. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c03650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingxu Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Aleksandar Staykov
- International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Research Center for Negative Emissions Technologies (K-Nets), Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Miho Yamauchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I2CNER), Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Research Center for Negative Emissions Technologies (K-Nets), Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering (IMCE), Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
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9
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Mendoza D, Dong ST, Lassalle-Kaiser B. In situ/operando X-ray spectroscopy applied to electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: status and perspectives. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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10
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Mu S, Lu H, Wu Q, Li L, Zhao R, Long C, Cui C. Hydroxyl radicals dominate reoxidation of oxide-derived Cu in electrochemical CO 2 reduction. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3694. [PMID: 35760802 PMCID: PMC9237086 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31498-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cuδ+ sites on the surface of oxide-derived copper (OD-Cu) are of vital importance in electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). However, the underlying reason for the dynamically existing Cuδ+ species, although thermodynamically unstable under reductive CO2RR conditions, remains uncovered. Here, by using electron paramagnetic resonance, we identify the highly oxidative hydroxyl radicals (OH•) formed at room temperature in HCO3- solutions. In combination with in situ Raman spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and isotope-labelling, we demonstrate a dynamic reduction/reoxidation behavior at the surface of OD-Cu and reveal that the fast oxygen exchange between HCO3- and H2O provides oxygen sources for the formation of OH• radicals. In addition, their continuous generations can cause spontaneous oxidation of Cu electrodes and produce surface CuOx species. Significantly, this work suggests that there is a “seesaw-effect” between the cathodic reduction and the OH•-induced reoxidation, determining the chemical state and content of Cuδ+ species in CO2RR. This insight is supposed to thrust an understanding of the crucial role of electrolytes in CO2RR. The Cuδ+ species has been frequently detected during CO2 reduction and plays a key role in C-C coupling for C2+ products. Here the authors uncover that the HCO3- solution can activate hydroxyl radicals that oxidize metallic Cu to surface Cuδ+ species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijia Mu
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Honglei Lu
- 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
| | - Lei Li
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Ruijuan Zhao
- Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Chang Long
- 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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11
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Yan L, Liang XD, Sun Y, Xiao LP, Lu BA, Li G, Li YY, Hong YH, Wan LY, Chen C, Yang J, Zhou ZY, Tian N, Sun SG. Evolution of Cu single atom catalysts to nanoclusters during CO 2 reduction to CO. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:2488-2491. [PMID: 35084422 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05910f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
We synthesized Cu single atoms embedded in a N-doped porous carbon catalyst with a high Faradaic efficiency of 93.5% at -0.50 V (vs. RHE) for CO2 reduction to CO. The evolution of Cu single-atom sites to nanoclusters of about 1 nm was observed after CO2 reduction at a potential lower than -0.30 V (vs. RHE). The DFT calculation indicates that Cu nanoclusters improve the CO2 activation and the adsorption of intermediate *COOH, thus exhibiting higher catalytic activity than CuNx sites. The structural instability observed in this study helps in understanding the actual active sites of Cu single atom catalysts for CO2 reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Xiao-Du Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Yue Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Liang-Ping Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Bang-An Lu
- School of Material Science & Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Guang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Yu-Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Yu-Hao Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Li-Yang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Chi Chen
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Zhi-You Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Na Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Shi-Gang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
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12
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Landers AT, Koshy DM, Lee SH, Drisdell WS, Davis RC, Hahn C, Mehta A, Jaramillo TF. A refraction correction for buried interfaces applied to in situ grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction studies on Pd electrodes. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2021; 28:919-923. [PMID: 33949999 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577521001557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In situ characterization of electrochemical systems can provide deep insights into the structure of electrodes under applied potential. Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) is a particularly valuable tool owing to its ability to characterize the near-surface structure of electrodes through a layer of electrolyte, which is of paramount importance in surface-mediated processes such as catalysis and adsorption. Corrections for the refraction that occurs as an X-ray passes through an interface have been derived for a vacuum-material interface. In this work, a more general form of the refraction correction was developed which can be applied to buried interfaces, including liquid-solid interfaces. The correction is largest at incidence angles near the critical angle for the interface and decreases at angles larger and smaller than the critical angle. Effective optical constants are also introduced which can be used to calculate the critical angle for total external reflection at the interface. This correction is applied to GIXRD measurements of an aqueous electrolyte-Pd interface, demonstrating that the correction allows for the comparison of GIXRD measurements at multiple incidence angles. This work improves quantitative analysis of d-spacing values from GIXRD measurements of liquid-solid systems, facilitating the connection between electrochemical behavior and structure under in situ conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan T Landers
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David M Koshy
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Soo Hong Lee
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Walter S Drisdell
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ryan C Davis
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Christopher Hahn
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Apurva Mehta
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
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13
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Liu L, Corma A. Structural transformations of solid electrocatalysts and photocatalysts. Nat Rev Chem 2021; 5:256-276. [PMID: 37117283 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-021-00255-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneous catalysts often undergo structural transformations when they operate under thermal reaction conditions. These transformations are reflected in their evolving catalytic activity, and a fundamental understanding of the changing nature of active sites is vital for the rational design of solid materials for applications. Beyond thermal catalysis, both photocatalysis and electrocatalysis are topical because they can harness renewable energy to drive uphill reactions that afford commodity chemicals and fuels. Although structural transformations of photocatalysts and electrocatalysts have been observed in operando, the resulting implications for catalytic behaviour are not fully understood. In this Review, we summarize and compare the structural evolution of solid thermal catalysts, electrocatalysts and photocatalysts. We suggest that well-established knowledge of thermal catalysis offers a good basis to understand emerging photocatalysis and electrocatalysis research.
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14
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Guntern YT, Okatenko V, Pankhurst J, Varandili SB, Iyengar P, Koolen C, Stoian D, Vavra J, Buonsanti R. Colloidal Nanocrystals as Electrocatalysts with Tunable Activity and Selectivity. ACS Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c04403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yannick T. Guntern
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Valery Okatenko
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - James Pankhurst
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Seyedeh Behnaz Varandili
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Pranit Iyengar
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Cedric Koolen
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Dragos Stoian
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Jan Vavra
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
| | - Raffaella Buonsanti
- Laboratory of Nanochemistry for Energy (LNCE), Department of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1950 Sion, Switzerland
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15
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Lee SH, Lin JC, Farmand M, Landers AT, Feaster JT, Avilés Acosta JE, Beeman JW, Ye Y, Yano J, Mehta A, Davis RC, Jaramillo TF, Hahn C, Drisdell WS. Oxidation State and Surface Reconstruction of Cu under CO 2 Reduction Conditions from In Situ X-ray Characterization. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 143:588-592. [PMID: 33382947 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c10017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) using Cu-based catalysts holds great potential for producing valuable multi-carbon products from renewable energy. However, the chemical and structural state of Cu catalyst surfaces during the CO2RR remains a matter of debate. Here, we show the structural evolution of the near-surface region of polycrystalline Cu electrodes under in situ conditions through a combination of grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy (GIXAS) and X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). The in situ GIXAS reveals that the surface oxide layer is fully reduced to metallic Cu before the onset potential for CO2RR, and the catalyst maintains the metallic state across the potentials relevant to the CO2RR. We also find a preferential surface reconstruction of the polycrystalline Cu surface toward (100) facets in the presence of CO2. Quantitative analysis of the reconstruction profiles reveals that the degree of reconstruction increases with increasingly negative applied potentials, and it persists when the applied potential returns to more positive values. These findings show that the surface of Cu electrocatalysts is dynamic during the CO2RR, and emphasize the importance of in situ characterization to understand the surface structure and its role in electrocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John C Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | | | - Alan T Landers
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jeremy T Feaster
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Jaime E Avilés Acosta
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | | | - Yifan Ye
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Junko Yano
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Apurva Mehta
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Ryan C Davis
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Thomas F Jaramillo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.,SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Christopher Hahn
- SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
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16
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Khare R, Jentys A, Lercher JA. Development of photochemical and electrochemical cells for operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy during photocatalytic and electrocatalytic reactions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:18891-18901. [PMID: 32350496 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp00654h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Photochemical and electrochemical reactions are highly relevant processes for (i) transforming chemicals (e.g. photoreduction of isopropanol to acetone, electrochemical hydrogenation of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol, etc.), and (ii) sustainable energy production (e.g. photoreduction of CO2 to methanol, electrocatalytic H2 evolution reaction). It is therefore of importance to monitor the structural changes and to understand the properties of active sites under photocatalytic and electrocatalytic reaction conditions. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides the means to investigate the nature of active sites under realistic reaction conditions. In this contribution, we describe the successful development of photochemical and electrochemical cells for operando XAS measurements during photocatalytic and electrocatalytic reactions. We have used the operando photochemical cell to monitor the formation of Pt nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C3N4-ns) via photodeposition under visible light illumination and observed the formation of highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles with an estimated size of ∼2.5 nm and >60% dispersion. We have also tested this cell to follow the oxidation state of Pt in Pt/TiO2 and Pt/g-C3N4-ns during H2 evolution reaction (HER). We observed that Pt predominantly existed as metallic (reduced) Pt0 species under HER conditions, and that PtOx species were partially reduced from PtIV to Pt0 upon illumination with UV or visible light. The rates of H2 evolution obtained in the photochemical cell (12.1 mmol g-1 h-1 on Pt/TiO2 and 1.01 mmol g-1 h-1 on Pt/g-C3N4-ns) were comparable to that obtained in a standard top-irradiated photoreactor (16.6 mmol g-1 h-1 on Pt/TiO2 and 1.76 mmol g-1 h-1 on Pt/g-C3N4-ns). The operando electrochemical cell was successfully tested to monitor the changes in the structure and oxidation state of Pd in Pd/C electrocatalyst during electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of benzaldehyde. It was demonstrated that Pd in Pd/C was present in a partially reduced state (∼80% Pd0 and ∼20% PdII) and Pd nanoparticles did not degrade upon the application of an external potential under ECH reaction conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachit Khare
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
| | - Andreas Jentys
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
| | - Johannes A Lercher
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany. and Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, USA
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17
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Firet NJ, Burdyny T, Nesbitt NT, Chandrashekar S, Longo A, Smith WA. Copper and silver gas diffusion electrodes performing CO2 reduction studied through operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Catal Sci Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cy01267j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A guide on operando XAS for high current density CO2 reduction and a detailed analysis of the obtained XAS data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke J. Firet
- Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS)
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Delft University of Technology
- 2629 HZ Delft
- The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Burdyny
- Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS)
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Delft University of Technology
- 2629 HZ Delft
- The Netherlands
| | - Nathan T. Nesbitt
- Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS)
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Delft University of Technology
- 2629 HZ Delft
- The Netherlands
| | - Sanjana Chandrashekar
- Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS)
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Delft University of Technology
- 2629 HZ Delft
- The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Longo
- Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
- The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
- 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9
- France
- Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering
| | - Wilson A. Smith
- Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (MECS)
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Delft University of Technology
- 2629 HZ Delft
- The Netherlands
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