This thesis focuses on the synthesis, characterization and performance towards CO2 electroreduction of mono and bi-metallic particles based on p-block metals. With an industrial perspective in mind... Show moreThis thesis focuses on the synthesis, characterization and performance towards CO2 electroreduction of mono and bi-metallic particles based on p-block metals. With an industrial perspective in mind, we try to synthesize particulate, high surface area materials with clean, scalable synthesis methods where possible and test their performance in H-Cell and gas diffusion electrode flow cell configurations. With a combination of characterization techniques, we find possible explanations for the catalytic behaviors. Show less
This thesis has shed light on some of the ways in which the local electrolyte composition can differ from the bulk and how these changes in the local reaction environment can determine the activity... Show moreThis thesis has shed light on some of the ways in which the local electrolyte composition can differ from the bulk and how these changes in the local reaction environment can determine the activity and/or selectivity of two important electrocatalytic reactions, namely, electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Show less
Electrocatalysis allows for storing electricity or converting it into chemical bonds, producing chemical building blocks and fuels using renewable resources. Therefore, it plays an important role... Show moreElectrocatalysis allows for storing electricity or converting it into chemical bonds, producing chemical building blocks and fuels using renewable resources. Therefore, it plays an important role in the transition towards a more sustainable future for our society through electrification. Still, to bring electrochemical technologies to industrial scale and make them competitive, optimization of various aspects of electrocatalytic reactions are needed. Many fundamental studies focus on understanding the catalyst surface, however, different components of the electrolyte, as pH and cations, have also shown to significantly affect the reaction activity and selectivity. In view of that, in this thesis, various aspects of the electrode-electrolyte interface are studied at different scales, using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM), stationary and rotating-disc electrode voltammetry techniques, and bulk electrolysis. Show less
This dissertation focused on computational methods based on first principles calculations using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) framework. Emphasis was laid on affordable methods that can... Show moreThis dissertation focused on computational methods based on first principles calculations using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) framework. Emphasis was laid on affordable methods that can provide a tradeoff between computational expense and accuracy. Specifically, we investigated solvation effects near the surface of the electrode, used thermodynamic cycles to compute solution-phase energies and also proposed a workflow to detect gas-phase errors on the free energies of target molecules. We used these simple methods to study complex adsorption processes at the PdMLPt(111) electrode surface. DFT and experimental studies (performed by Dr. Chen from our group) were crucial to guide the investigation forward. Show less
The electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an essential half-reaction for the utilization of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel, via the conversion of hydrogen to electrons and protons... Show moreThe electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an essential half-reaction for the utilization of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel, via the conversion of hydrogen to electrons and protons facilitated by the ORR. In the most common fuel cells, the ORR is requires high loadings of non-abundant platinum based catalysts. Inspired by Laccase, a multicopper oxidase able to perform the ORR at a low overpotential, copper complexes have become interesting targets as non-precious metal catalysts for the ORR.In this thesis, the ORR performance of molecular copper catalysts and the involved catalytic mechanisms have been investigated. The previously undetermined electrocatalytic mechanism for the ORR by the Cu(tmpa) copper complex was elucidated. Hydrogen peroxide was shown to play an important role in the catalytic cycle as a reaction intermediate. This has interesting implications for the sustainable electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the reduction of hydrogen peroxide shows striking similarities with Fenton-like reactions observed in copper containing enzymes. Finally, the performance of several different copper electrocatalysts for the reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide was investigated and compared. Show less
Advanced sensing techniques require graphene with high quality and well-controlled surface chemistry. The intrinsic high mobility, low electrical noises and uniform graphitic crystallinity are the... Show moreAdvanced sensing techniques require graphene with high quality and well-controlled surface chemistry. The intrinsic high mobility, low electrical noises and uniform graphitic crystallinity are the prerequisites for high-performance graphene electronics. More importantly, chemical functionalization contributes to unlock the sensing potential of the graphene basal plane. This thesis focuses on manipulating the surface chemistry of a graphene monolayer and explores the impacts on the electrical and electrochemical properties for sensing applications. Heteroatoms like hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen were systematically introduced into the graphene lattice as defect sites to modify the surface chemistry, and consequently the electronic properties and sensing performance. In summary, a correlation between the in-plane electron transport and the electrochemical activity of hydrogenated graphene was studied by modulating the density of H-sp3 defects. Moreover, cleaning effect on the graphene surface caused by hydrogenation process and the corresponding mechanism were discussed. The electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction reaction on nitrogen doped monolayer graphene was conducted to pinpoint the catalytic active sites. The mechanics of a centimeter-scale graphene floating on water was characterized by biaxial compression. Finally, the chemically modified graphene was tested for field-effect sensing of gas molecules. Show less
Sustainable energy from wind and solar is most readily available near the sea. Seawater electrolysis would thus be a highly promising method for intermittently storing surplus electricity from... Show moreSustainable energy from wind and solar is most readily available near the sea. Seawater electrolysis would thus be a highly promising method for intermittently storing surplus electricity from these sources, in the form of hydrogen. Unfortunately, the direct use of seawater in electrolysers brings with it a selectivity problem, caused by the chloride salts in such water. Instead of forming oxygen at the anode, which is environmentally harmless and thus the desired product, the formation of toxic chlorine becomes possible in seawater, and this reaction has to be avoided. This thesis is focussed on how the anodic evolution of oxygen and chlorine compete, and how selectivity between these two reactions may be optimized for the benefit of seawater electrolysis, and electrocatalysis in general. Show less
Cathodic corrosion is a relatively unknown phenomenon that can severely etch metallic electrodes at cathodic (negative) potentials. In spite of these remarkable changes that are caused by cathodic... Show moreCathodic corrosion is a relatively unknown phenomenon that can severely etch metallic electrodes at cathodic (negative) potentials. In spite of these remarkable changes that are caused by cathodic corrosion, the phenomenon is stil not fully understood. Cathodic corrosion is therefore the focus of this PhD thesis. The first three experimental chapters of the thesis focus on characterizing platinum, rhodium and gold electrodes before and after cathodic corrosion in a variety of working solutions. In doing so, these chapters establish surprisingly mild corrosion onset potentials and reveal an etching anistropy that depends on the cation in the working solution. Additional density functional theory calculations suggest a similarly significant role for adsorbed hydrogen. These result suggest the existence of ternary metal hydrides during cathodic corrosion. The role of hydrides is further studied in the fourth experimental chapter through X-ray absorption spectroscopy. These four fundamental chapters are followed by two more applied chapters. The first of these tailors the activity of a platinum single crystal towards oxygen reduction, by using cathodic corrosion. The second applied chapter uses cathodic corrosion to create and thoroughly characterize alloyed nanoparticles. Combined, these fundamental and applied chapters provide valuable new information towards understanding and applying cathodic corrosion. Show less
With the energy transition toward a renewable energy supply and a CO2-neutral economy, electrification of the energy system is rising in importance, which leads to the challenge of long-term... Show moreWith the energy transition toward a renewable energy supply and a CO2-neutral economy, electrification of the energy system is rising in importance, which leads to the challenge of long-term storage of renewable electricity. A promising option is the electrochemical conversion of biomass or carbon dioxide in chemicals as energy carrier. In this research, catalysis of the electrochemical CO2 reduction was studied to obtain liquid fuels. In this fundamental study we discovered that so-called disproportionation reactions may occur simultaneously with the CO2 reduction reaction influencing the product spectrum. Moreover, we focused on metalloprotoporphyrins immobilized on a graphite surface. We found that the selectivity can be steered toward formic acid with rhodium, tin or indium metal centers. Apart from intrinsic catalyst parameters, we studied the influence of parameters related to the immobilization and the composition of the electrolyte. We showed that the substrate and its pretreatment as well as encapsulation of the catalyst in polymers can have a signifcant influence on the electrocatalysis of CO2 reduction. The results obtained in this thesis provide insight in the energy efficiency, reaction rate and selectivity of the CO2 reduction reaction, and play an important role for the development of an industrially viable process. Show less
The growing demand of energy indicates that global energy resources in the form of fossil fuels will not be sufficient in the future. In order to solve potential future energy problems development... Show moreThe growing demand of energy indicates that global energy resources in the form of fossil fuels will not be sufficient in the future. In order to solve potential future energy problems development of a sustainable hydrogen economy is highly desirable. Researchers are looking for new and cleaner ways for the production of dihydrogen gas. The structure and function of hydrogenases have raised the attention of synthetic chemists in the past decades, since new catalysts for proton reduction may be developed by using biomimetic, functional models of hydrogenases. Three types of hydrogenases are known, being the [FeFe], [Fe] and [NiFe] hydrogenases.A significant amount of data has been gathered over the years concerning the enzyme redox states and the reaction mechanism for the reversible heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen at the [NiFe] hydrogenase active site. The [NiFeSe] hydrogenases form a subclass of the [NiFe] hydrogenases, in which one of the cysteines (Cys) in the active site of the enzyme is replaced by selenocysteine (Sec). This thesis deals with the synthesis and characterization of new structural and functional models of the nickel-containing enzymes [NiFe] and [NiFeSe] hydrogenases for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Show less
The PhD project was aimed to understand the role of the solvent in the hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions on platinum and gold. This approach sheds light on the molecular origins... Show more The PhD project was aimed to understand the role of the solvent in the hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions on platinum and gold. This approach sheds light on the molecular origins affecting the kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction, as a promising source of energy in the era of sustainable energy production and storage. Ultimately, this work demonstrates the importance of the solvent in the hydrogen electrocatalysis, specifically, water, by settling its role as a solvent, as a proton donor, and by preferential proton solvation, clarifying a long-existing debate regarding the pH dependence of the hydrogen evolution, and setting a path for future exploration of solvent-electrode interfaces for the tailoring of electrocatalytic reactions. Show less
This thesis discusses the parameters affecting the catalysis for the electrochemical conversion of water into oxygen. The slow kinetics for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is one of the major... Show moreThis thesis discusses the parameters affecting the catalysis for the electrochemical conversion of water into oxygen. The slow kinetics for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is one of the major bottlenecks in the solar energy-to-fuels conversion process, which reduces the efficiency for the photo-electrochemical fuels generation (artificial photosynthesis). The work shows that to enhance the kinetics for the oxygen evolution reaction, one should not only look at the catalysts but also consider the synergy between catalyst and electrolyte. A more general approach that considers the electrochemical interface as a whole (electrode + electrolyte) is therefore the most promising route towards optimal activity. Show less
Nitrate reduction on Sn-modified polycrystalline Pt has been investigated. NO is the main product at high Sn coverage, whereas N2O is dominant at low Sn coverage. The N2O reduction on Sn-modified... Show moreNitrate reduction on Sn-modified polycrystalline Pt has been investigated. NO is the main product at high Sn coverage, whereas N2O is dominant at low Sn coverage. The N2O reduction on Sn-modified Pt electrodes indicates electrochemical formation of N2 is related to pristine Pt sites. Moreover, homogeneous chemical reactions of intermediates products also contribute to N2O and N2 formation of in solution. The p-block metals have been studied: Cd, In and Sn show a promoting effect; Ga shows a limited enhancement; Tl shows a special promoting effect in sulfuric acid; Pb shows a weak formation of N2O. Density Functional Theory calculations show that Sn and In enhance nitrate adsorption compared with pristine Pt. Moreover, ammonia is found as the only product on Pt. After modification by Sn, hydroxylamine is specifically found with nitrite, which supports that nitrate reduction to nitrite is enhanced by Sn and Sn could steer the hydrogenation of NOads. However, solution pH is an important factor. On Pt, nitrate reduction is only observed in acidic solution. On Rh, a higher activity is observed in wide pH, which suggests a mechanism that HNO3 molecule is the active species. However, Rh additionally shows a special ability to reduce NO3- directly. Show less
This project has dealt with the mechanistic study of the electrocatalytic nitrite reduction, the selectivity-determining step of nitrate reduction. Nitrate is a polluting ion targeted by wastewater... Show moreThis project has dealt with the mechanistic study of the electrocatalytic nitrite reduction, the selectivity-determining step of nitrate reduction. Nitrate is a polluting ion targeted by wastewater remediation; electrochemistry strives to achieve selectivity to harmless products (N2). A multi-pronged approach has been followed, aimed at establishing the influence of several variables (electrocatalyst material, surface structure, pH and electrode potential) on the catalytic activity and the product distribution, which has been determined with in situ analytical techniques (mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy). The molecular underpinnings of nitrite reduction have thereby been unravelled for transition metals, showing that an optimal catalytic performance is achieved when metals intermediate affinities to reaction intermediates (Sabatier Principle). The all-important concept of structure sensitivity also applies to nitrite reduction at Pt electrodes, although only in alkaline media: a Pt(100) single-crystal is the sole Pt surface able to achieve the desired direct conversion of nitrite into 100% N2. Such selectivity is unparalleled for a simple monometallic surface and is an outstanding finding. Additionally, the nitrite-reducing performance of bio-inspired catalysts, (electroactive metalloporphyrins) was investigated. A further side-project of this PhD thesis has also been the electrochemical characterization of preferentially-oriented cuboid Pt nanoparticles synthesized with the innovative __cathodic corrosion__. Show less
The thesis contains a discussion on the subject of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) on Pt-alloy nanoparticle catalysts in the Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) method. An insight in some of the... Show moreThe thesis contains a discussion on the subject of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) on Pt-alloy nanoparticle catalysts in the Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) method. An insight in some of the difficulties of this method is given with proper solutions and compensations for these problems. Pt3Co, Au-core Pt3Fe-shell catalysts dispersed on carbon support, as well as the 3M Nanostructured Thin Film (NSTF) catalyst are analyzed and the ORR activities measured. For the Pt3Co catalyst, the particle size effect and the effect of catalyst pretreatment is determined. The significant durability enhancement of the gold-core Pt3Fe-shell catalyst is discussed. A novel pretreatment method for the NSTF catalyst is shown, as well as the significant increase in mass activity for the ORR compared to carbon-supported catalysts. The thesis ends with an insight in the cyclic voltammetry of a Pt (100) single crystal electrodein alkaline media and the effect of the pretreatment of the catalyst. Show less
This thesis describes the results of the fundamental research on the electro-oxidation of ethanol. In addition, the oxidation of intermediates in the ethanol electro-oxidation reaction, such as... Show moreThis thesis describes the results of the fundamental research on the electro-oxidation of ethanol. In addition, the oxidation of intermediates in the ethanol electro-oxidation reaction, such as acetaldehyde and adsorbed CO, has also been studied. The goal of this research is to provide deeper insight into the molecular level understanding of the mechanism, and how various operational parameters affect this mechanism. With these insights, the development of low temperature direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC) can be advanced, since, ultimately, the goal of fundamental catalysis research is the rational design of new catalysts, for which the understanding of molecular mechanisms is of essential importance. The mechanism of the electro-oxidation reaction is investigated using electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, as well as in situ characterization techniques, such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and online electrochemical mass spectrometry (OLEMS). Show less
The main goal of the research presented in this thesis is the synthesis of suitable structural and functional models for the enzyme [NiFe] hydrogenase, which can reduce protons into dihydrogen. A... Show moreThe main goal of the research presented in this thesis is the synthesis of suitable structural and functional models for the enzyme [NiFe] hydrogenase, which can reduce protons into dihydrogen. A brief survey of the roles of all the known nickel containing enzymes in biological systems with a focus on the [NiFe] hydrogenases. Structure, function, physicochemical and catalytic properties of the [NiFe] hydrogenase itself and of the reported model complexes are presented. Many new Nickel, [NiFe], [NiRu] and [NiCu] complexes have been synthesized and studied in view of better catalysts for proton electroreduction into dihydrogen. Show less
