Electrifying model catalysts for understanding electrocatalytic reactions in liquid electrolytes

Abstract

Electrocatalysis is at the heart of our future transition to a renewable energy system. Most energy storage and conversion technologies for renewables rely on electrocatalytic processes and, with increasing availability of cheap electrical energy from renewables, chemical production will witness electrification in the near future. However, our fundamental understanding of electrocatalysis lags behind the field of classical heterogeneous catalysis that has been the dominating chemical technology for a long time. Here, we describe a new strategy to advance fundamental studies on electrocatalytic materials. We propose to 'electrify' complex oxide-based model catalysts made by surface science methods to explore electrocatalytic reactions in liquid electrolytes. We demonstrate the feasibility of this concept by transferring an atomically defined platinum/cobalt oxide model catalyst into the electrochemical environment while preserving its atomic surface structure. Using this approach, we explore particle size effects and identify hitherto unknown metal-support interactions that stabilize oxidized platinum at the nanoparticle interface. The metal-support interactions open a new synergistic reaction pathway that involves both metallic and oxidized platinum. Our results illustrate the potential of the concept, which makes available a systematic approach to build atomically defined model electrodes for fundamental electrocatalytic studies.

Active Electron Density Modulation of Co3O4‐Based Catalysts Enhances their Oxygen Evolution Performance

“…Therefore, it is very challenging to identify actual active sites and determine the actual rate‐determining step during the reaction process . It was reported that Co 3 O 4 can retain its spinel crystal phase during the OER process . Thus, it is an ideal model material for in‐depth research of the real limiting factor of the OER process.…”

“…[20,21] It was reported that Co 3 O 4 can retain its spinel crystal phase during the OER process. [16,22,23] Thus,i ti sa ni deal model material for in-depth research of the real limiting factor of the OER process. Although the catalytic property of Co 3 O 4 is not satisfactory, enhancing conductivity and increasing active sites have been reported to effectively upgrade its OER performance.…”

Active Electron Density Modulation of Co3O4‐Based Catalysts Enhances their Oxygen Evolution Performance

“…Therefore, it is very challenging to identify actual active sites and determine the actual rate‐determining step during the reaction process . It was reported that Co 3 O 4 can retain its spinel crystal phase during the OER process . Thus, it is an ideal model material for in‐depth research of the real limiting factor of the OER process.…”

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance through Body Enrichment of Co‐Based Bimetallic Nanoparticles In Situ Embedded Porous N‐Doped Carbon Spheres

“…Up to now, numerous investigations have been devoted to enhancing the electrocatalytic activities of TMs/NC by tuning the structures and components, including increase the number of active sites and boost the intrinsic activity . On the one hand, more surface‐active sites were successfully exposed by coupling different carbonaceous supports (e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon sphere), increasing the loading and decreasing the size of TMs . However, the limited surface space largely restricts the increase of the number of active sites, which prompt us to develop the porous carbonaceous materials as supports to extend more available body space loading TMs active species.…”