Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiao Tong, Scott P. Price, Jeremy C. Robins, Claron Ridge, Hyun You Kim, Paul Kemper, Horia Metiu, Michael T. Bowers, Steven K. Buratto
Summary: In this study, the adsorption behavior of H2O on a TiO2 surface decorated with VO clusters was investigated using UHV-STM and TPD techniques. The results reveal that the preadsorbed VO clusters can induce the adsorption of H2O molecules at room temperature, forming strings of H2O dimers. This adsorption behavior is reversible and unique to the VO-decorated TiO2 surface.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chenbiao Xu, Fei Xu, Xiao Chen, Zhenxing Li, Zhiwen Luan, Xingan Wang, Qing Guo, Xueming Yang
Summary: This study investigates the photoinduced water dissociation and desorption on a R-TiO2(110) surface at different wavelengths, revealing significant increases in the relative yield of H2O oxidation and desorption as the laser wavelength decreases. The results suggest that the energy of charge carriers plays a crucial role in these processes and challenge the widely accepted photocatalysis model of TiO2.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shanshan Dong, Jinyuan Hu, Shucai Xia, Binli Wang, Zhiqiang Wang, Tianjun Wang, Wei Chen, Zefeng Ren, Hongjun Fan, Dongxu Dai, Jun Cheng, Xueming Yang, Chuanyao Zhou
Summary: Methanol has been used as a hole scavenger in photocatalysis to improve charge separation. Study revealed that methoxy anions on TiO2 facilitate charge transfer more effectively than methanol, enhancing photocatalytic activity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zefeng Ren, Ruidan Zhang, Ting Luo, Wei-Wang Zeng, Chuanyao Zhou, Xueming Yang
Summary: Surfacesensitive sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) was used to study the adsorption and reaction of methanol on TiO2(110) at near ambient pressure and 400K. The results showed that bridge-bonded methoxy (CH3Ob) was the dominant adsorbed species on TiO2(110) at an elevated pressure of methanol. By evacuating the methanol gas, only CH3Ob species remained on the surface, which was confirmed by UV irradiation experiments. It was also found that the recombinative desorption of bridging hydroxyl (OHb) groups can facilitate the continuous dissociative adsorption of methanol and the continuous generation of CH3Ob.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mi Yoo, Eunji Kang, Hyuk Choi, Hyunwoo Ha, Hanseul Choi, Jin-Seok Choi, Kug-Seung Lee, Richard Celestre, David A. Shapiro, Jeong Young Park, Chunjoong Kim, Young-Sang Yu, Hyun You Kim
Summary: The study addresses controversies surrounding single-atom catalysts and provides insights on how to enhance their activity and stability through interface control methods. The results demonstrate a novel strategy for improving the catalytic properties of Pt-SAs and monitoring their performance through the chemical state of interfaces, enabling sustainable use of Pt in heterogeneous catalysts.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gergo Ballai, Tamas Gyenes, Henrik Haspel, Livia Vasarhelyi, Imre Szenti, Daniel Sebok, Zoltan Konya, Akos Kukovecz
Summary: Direct liquid fuel cells are promising for addressing climate change, especially direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) which use safe fuels from sustainable sources. However, DMFCs face competitive disadvantages like high cost of noble metal catalysts, application difficulties, and catalyst poisoning from carbon monoxide.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lan Hui, Yurui Xue, Chengyu Xing, Yuxin Liu, Yuncheng Du, Yan Fang, Huidi Yu, Chao Zhang, Feng He, Yuliang Li
Summary: In this study, we successfully synthesized uniform-sized NiPtSAA/GDY hexagonal nanocrystals with atomically lattice distortion by utilizing the domain-limiting effect of porous graphdiyne (GDY). The hexagonal nanocrystals exhibited excellent mass activity and specific activity in methanol oxidation reaction, as well as high durability and activity. In situ XAFS and XPS measurements confirmed that the low valence states of Pt were the origin of the activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zong-Jie Guan, Rui-Lin He, Shang-Fu Yuan, Jiao-Jiao Li, Feng Hu, Chun-Yu Liu, Quan-Ming Wang
Summary: We report the structures, stability, and catalytic properties of two Ag-21 nanoclusters with different electronic structures and an identical icosahedral kernel. These clusters exhibit superior stability under ambient conditions and one of them shows higher activity as a catalyst in a reduction reaction.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Cong Fu, Yunshang Zhang, Xiao Sun, Fei Fang, Weixin Huang
Summary: The effects of adsorbed water on methanol photochemistry on TiO2 surfaces are investigated in this paper. It is found that adsorbed water competes with methanol for surface sites and promotes the decomposition of methanol through surface OH groups. The surface OH groups can trap photoexcited electrons and participate in photocatalytic reactions of methanol. In the presence of O-2, adsorbed water mainly affects the photocatalytic oxidation of methanol by influencing the adsorption of methanol and O-2. These results reveal the complex nature of the influence of adsorbed water on methanol photochemistry on TiO2 surfaces.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Bilal Bawab, Sitaramanjaneya M. Thalluri, Jhonatan Rodriguez-Pereira, Hanna Sopha, Raul Zazpe, Jan M. Macak
Summary: Pd nanoparticles prepared by ALD show good performance in methanol electro-oxidation, with TNT layers as the supporting material effectively preventing the formation of electrochemical poisoning species. Different Pd loadings influence the particle size of Pd and electrocatalytic performance.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
K. Cieslik, D. Wrana, K. Szajna, W. Belza, M. Rogala, C. Rodenbuecher, P. Dabczynski, K. Szot, F. Krok
Summary: Repeated sputtering and annealing processes affect the conductivity and work function of the surface, increasing with cycles and reaching a plateau. The way the surface is prepared, using multiple cycles or one cycle of equivalent ion-beam fluence, matters in modifying the crystal properties, leading to changes in the subsurface layer after multiple cycles.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lars Mohrhusen, Katharina Al-Shamery
Summary: The study utilized tungsten oxide clusters deposited on rutile TiO2 as a model system to investigate the distribution of different thermal reaction pathways in methanol conversion, highlighting the importance of specific local reaction environments on the population of various reaction channels.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoling Zhang, Jing Ma, Ruiwen Yan, Wangxin Cheng, Jun Zheng, Baokang Jin
Summary: The study successfully prepared Pt-Ru/polyaniline/carbon nanotubes composites with excellent performance, showing higher activity and stability compared to Pt/C and other catalysts.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yu Ding, Bo-Qiang Miao, Ya-Chong Liu, Nan Hou, Yun Yang, Pu-Jun Jin, Shi-Bin Yin, Yu Chen
Summary: RhCo-NTs with hollow and tubular architecture synthesized through a one-pot reduction approach show enhanced electroactivity and stability for the methanol oxidation reaction.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zhida Gao, Zhijie Li, Chenxi Zhao, Tongtong Li, Yongxin Lu, Yan-Yan Song
Summary: The research utilized a hydrothermal modification strategy to anchor CoNi bi-component nanosheets onto TiO2 nanotube arrays, serving as a nonprecious metal electrocatalyst with improved resistance to intermediate poisoning and enhanced electrocatalytic stability in direct methanol fuel cells.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matias Blanco, Stefano Agnoli, Gaetano Granozzi
Summary: Graphene acid (GA) is a novel graphene platform with more uniform functionalization and enhanced electronic conduction. This review discusses the catalytic applications of GA and highlights the advantages over other graphene substrates.
ISRAEL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matus Stredansky, Stefania Moro, Manuel Corva, Henning Sturmeit, Valentin Mischke, David Janas, Iulia Cojocariu, Matteo Jugovac, Albano Cossaro, Alberto Verdini, Luca Floreano, Zhijing Feng, Alessandro Sala, Giovanni Comelli, Andreas Windischbacher, Peter Puschnig, Chantal Hohner, Miroslav Kettner, Jorg Libuda, Mirko Cinchetti, Claus Michael Schneider, Vitaliy Feyer, Erik Vesselli, Giovanni Zamborlini
Summary: Uncommon metal oxidation states in porphyrinoid cofactors play a crucial role in the activity of many enzymes. This study provides experimental and theoretical evidence on the reaction of nickel porphyrins with nitric oxide, and offers a detailed interpretation of the measurements.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Giovanni Carraro, Marco Smerieri, Simone Passaglia, Gianangelo Bracco, Luca Vattuone, Mario Rocca, Albano Cossaro, Alberto Verdini, Luca Floreano, Letizia Savio
Summary: This study investigates the adsorption behavior of glutamic acid on TiO2 surface and finds that surface hydroxylation affects the adsorption state. It is suggested that glutamic acid binds to the surface through a carboxylate group.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunshuo Yang, Giulia Alice Volpato, Elena Rossin, Nicola Peruffo, Francesco Tumbarello, Catia Nicoletti, Ruggero Bonetto, Lorenzo Paoloni, Paolo Umari, Elena Colusso, Luca Dell'Amico, Serena Berardi, Elisabetta Collini, Stefano Caramori, Stefano Agnoli, Andrea Sartorel
Summary: Dye-sensitized photoanodes are assembled using a nanosized rods form of quinacridone dye on different substrate slides. These photoanodes display extended absorption and ultrafast electron injection into the semiconductor. The reactivity of the dye is used for C-H bond activation, providing a mechanistically oriented route for the design of selective organic transformations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mengjiao Wang, Silvio Osella, Rosaria Brescia, Zheming Liu, Jaime Gallego, Mattia Cattelan, Matteo Crisci, Stefano Agnoli, Teresa Gatti
Summary: As a semiconductor for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, BiOBr has garnered significant attention, however, its poor photocatalytic efficiency is attributed to high recombination of charge carriers. Combining it with other photoactive semiconductors offers a viable solution to address these limitations. By exfoliating BiOBr microspheres into few-layer nanosheets using a liquid-phase exfoliation method, we prepare a series of 2D MoS2/BiOBr van der Waals (vdW) heterojunctions that exhibit distinctive behavior as (photo)electrocatalysts for the HER, depending on the weight composition. Additionally, except for the 1% MoS2/BiOBr composition, both pristine 2D BiOBr and the heterojunctions undergo photocorrosion, reducing BiOBr to metallic Bi. These findings provide valuable guidelines for designing novel 2D material-based (photo)electrocatalysts for sustainable fuel production.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marco Lunardon, Tomasz Kosmala, Mahdi Ghorbani-Asl, Arkady V. Krasheninnikov, Sadhu Kolekar, Christian Durante, Matthias Batzill, Stefano Agnoli, Gaetano Granozzi
Summary: Unraveling the structure-activity relationships in catalysis is challenging due to the complexity and heterogeneity of materials. This study utilizes electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM) to analyze the noise in the current and evaluates the catalytic activity of different surface sites.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luca Schio, Gregor Bavdek, Cesare Grazioli, Carolina Gutierrez Bolanos, Andrea Goldoni, Andrea Vittadini, Massimo Tormen, Luca Floreano
Summary: The efficiency of interfacial charge transfer for metal-tetraphenylporphyrins (M-TPPs) on rutile TiO2(110) depends on the molecular adsorption site and configuration. M(II)-TPPs with M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn adsorb on the O-br rows with the same molecular conformation and form a commensurate phase with the same symmetry. The tendency to axial coordination determines the molecular adsorption energy and the preference for adsorption atop one O-br atom or on a bridge between two O-br atoms.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jose Abad, Jose I. Martinez, Paula Gomez, Miriam Mas-Montoya, Luis Rodriguez, Albano Cossaro, Alberto Verdini, Luca Floreano, Jose A. Martin-Gago, David Curiel, Javier Mendez
Summary: The control of molecular structures at the nanoscale is crucial for material and application development. The adsorption of a polyheteroaromatic molecule on Au(111) has been studied, revealing the formation of highly organized linear structures due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Different arrangements, including extended brick-wall and herringbone packing, were observed. Comprehensive experimental and theoretical characterizations were conducted to study the 2D hydrogen-bonded domains and the on-surface thermal stability of the physisorbed material.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Davide Salvo, Dario Mosconi, Alevtina Neyman, Maya Bar-Sadan, Laura Calvillo, Gaetano Granozzi, Mattia Cattelan, Stefano Agnoli
Summary: Mixed Ni/Co and Ni/Fe metal phosphides with different metal ratios were synthesized through phosphidization of high-surface-area hydroxides grown hydrothermally on carbon cloth. The materials were characterized by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and electron microscopies. Electrochemical water splitting experiments showed that the best performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction was achieved by materials containing a high amount of ternary compounds, such as NiCoP and NiFeP, with outstanding performance at only 50 mV to achieve 10 mA/cm(2). The best performance in the oxygen evolution reaction was achieved by Ni-Fe materials, which resulted in strong surface oxidation and dissolution of the phosphide/phosphate component, leading to the formation of corresponding metal oxides and hydroxides.
Article
Electrochemistry
Aaron Roy, Leonardo Girardi, Dario Mosconi, Moulay Tahar Sougrati, Deborah Jones, Stefano Agnoli, Frederic Jaouen
Summary: Metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells show high initial activity but poor durability. Adding Zn-molybdate or Zn molybdenum oxide improves selectivity and durability, possibly by promoting H2O2 scavenging.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nerea Ruiz del arbol, Carlos Sanchez-Sanchez, Jose I. Martinez, Luis Rodriguez, David Serrate, Alberto Verdini, Luca Floreano, Peter Jacobson, Leonhard Grill, Jose A. Martin-Gago, Maria F. Lopez
Summary: Two different metal-organic frameworks were grown on Cu(111) with different structures, a honeycomb or Kagome structure, using para-aminophenol molecules and native surface adatoms. Despite the same chemical species, their structural difference highlights the critical role of reaction conditions during growth. This work emphasizes the importance of balancing thermodynamics and kinetics in the final structure of surface-supported metal-organic networks.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Silvia Carlotto, Alberto Verdini, Giovanni Zamborlini, Iulia Cojocariu, Vitaliy Feyer, Luca Floreano, Maurizio Casarin
Summary: A precise understanding of the charge transfer at the NiTPP/Cu(100) interface has been gained through symmetry considerations and photoelectron diffraction measurements. The chemisorption site of NiTPP on Cu(100) has been determined, and the interfacial charge transfer has been revealed.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Elisa Tosin, Teresa Gatti, Stefano Agnoli, Laura Calvillo, Enzo Menna
Summary: The search for effective, stable, and low-cost catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the widespread use of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. This study developed metal-free catalysts by covalently functionalizing carbon nanohorns with N-containing heterocycles and found that protonated N is the main species involved in the ORR activity.