Publication date: 7th June 2020
Recent developments in electrocatalyst design are revealing new trends in carbon dioxide conversion product selectivity. Various design principles -- such as catalysts based on metal oxides, doped metals or metal alloys, and metal atoms in molecular coordination environments -- demonstrate behaviors which differ from their simple metal counterparts, revealing strategies toward enhancing selectivity toward high-value products while suppressing undesired ones. Continued rational development of catalysts demands that we have a detailed understanding of the structure-function relationships which dictate selectivity. However, under the harsh reaction conditions of CO2 reduction (e.g. highly negative potential, local pH extremes) many of these catalysts are prone to significant structure changes, making it difficult to understand the true catalytically active form of the electrode materials.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques can be uniquely powerful in investigating electrochemical systems under operating conditions. The high energies of X-ray photons enable them to be used under ambient conditions and to pass through liquid electrolyte. Element-specific information can be obtained due to the quantized nature of electronic transitions. A wide range of information can be revealed using X-ray spectroscopy methods, including composition, oxidation states, and local coordination environment. But there are numerous limitations and challenges to successfully investigating an electrochemical system using X-rays, requiring detailed understanding and careful planning. In this talk, I will summarize key concepts of different types of in situ X-ray spectroscopy techniques applied to electrochemical CO2 conversion, with select examples from the literature as well as a case study on our investigation of a bimetallic catalyst using both hard and soft X-ray absorption methods.
Helmholtz Association Initiative and Networking Fund, Helmholtz Energy Materials Foundry
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