Billie Abrams

Bioinspired molecular co-catalysts bonded to a silicon photocathode for solar hydrogen evolution

The production of fuels from sunlight represents one of the main challenges in the development of a sustainable energy system. Hydrogen is the simplest fuel to produce and although platinum and other noble metals are efficient catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution, earth-abundant alternatives are needed for large-scale use. We show that bioinspired molecular clusters based on molybdenum and sulphur evolve hydrogen at rates comparable to that of platinum. The incomplete cubane-like clusters (Mo(3)S(4)) efficiently catalyse the evolution of hydrogen when coupled to a p-type Si semiconductor that harvests red photons in the solar spectrum. The current densities at the reversible potential match the requirement of a photoelectrochemical hydrogen production system with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in excess of 10%. The experimental observations are supported by density functional theory calculations of the Mo(3)S(4) clusters adsorbed on the hydrogen-terminated Si(100) surface, providing insights into the nature of the active site.

Synthesis, structure and properties of metal nanoclusters

Metal nanoclusters have physical properties differing significantly from their bulk counterparts. Metallic properties such as delocalization of electrons in bulk metals which imbue them with high electrical and thermal conductivity, light reflectivity and mechanical ductility may be wholly or partially absent in metal nanoclusters, while new properties develop. We review modern synthetic methods used to form metal nanoclusters. The focus of this critical review is solution based chemical synthesis methods which produce fully dispersed clusters. Control of cluster size and surface chemistry using inverse micelles is emphasized. Two classes of metals are discussed, transition metals such as Au and Pt, and base metals such as Co, Fe and Ni. The optical and catalytic properties of the former are discussed and the magnetic properties of the latter are given as examples of unexpected new size-dependent properties of nanoclusters. We show how classical surface science methods of characterization augmented by chemical analysis methods such as liquid chromatography can be used to provide feedback for improvements in synthetic protocols. Characterization of metal clusters by their optical, catalytic, or magnetic behavior also provides insights leading to improvements in synthetic methods. The collective physical properties of closely interacting clusters are reviewed followed by speculation on future technical applications of clusters. (125 references).

Dynamics of Surface Exchange Reactions Between Au and Pt for HER and HOR

Orbit (07/12/2018) Dynamics of Surface Exchange Reactions Between Au and Pt for HER and HOR Cyclic voltammetric analysis of the Pt-on-Au system for hydrogen evolution and oxidation reactions (HER/HOR) indicates that dynamic surface exchange reactions occur between Pt and Au. HER/HOR activities depend on the dominant surface species present, which is controllable by the potential applied to the system. Bulk Au is not very active for HER/HOR; however, when Pt is deposited onto the Au surface, the system becomes active. The Pt-on-Au system can subsequently be deactivated by cycling to potentials cathodic of the OH-adsorption and Pt-dissolution potentials (~+1.18 V vs normal hydrogen electrode, NHE, at pH 0). Following deactivation, the system can be reactivated by cycling above this potential, giving an activation potential of ~+1.0 V vs NHE. This deactivation/reactivation can be cycled repeatedly and occurs for various forms of the Pt-on-Au system. This potential-dependent surface exchange reaction is attributed to the lower surface energy of Au relative to Pt causing Au to migrate to the surface. When the system is deactivated, Au is present at the surface. However, Pt migrates back to the surface at higher positive potentials, where PtOx/PtOHx is formed, leading to adsorbate-induced surface segregation. The surface compositions were verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Implications for electrocatalyst materials development for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are discussed.

Photocatalytic methane decomposition over vertically aligned transparent TiO2 nanotube arrays

We report here on a study of vertically aligned TiO(2) nanotube arrays grown by the one-step anodic oxidation technique and their photocatalytic performance for methane decomposition. Quantitative activity data as a function of film thickness is obtained.

Photoelectrocatalysis and electrocatalysis on silicon electrodes decorated with cubane-like clusters

The influence of the cluster-core unit in cluster-decorated p-Si on photo-electrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution has been investigated using a homologous series of cubane-like heterobimetallic sulfide compounds. These compounds stem from the generic cluster structure A3S4 or A3B?startSend?4 (A = W, Mo; B = Co, Cu). We find that the Mo-based (A = Mo) cluster-decorated Si photoelectrodes show higher PEC performance than otherwise equivalent W-based (A = W) cluster-decorated ones. This is consistent with higher electrocatalytic activity of the Mo-based clusters supported on n-Si when measured in the dark. The result of stability tests is that photoelectrodes decorated with clusters without Co (B ≠ Co) can exhibit promising stability, whereas clusters of the structure A3CoS4  (A = W, Mo) yield photoelectrodes that are highly unstable upon illumination. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results suggest that both oxidation and material loss play a role in deactivation of the A3CoS4 materials. Additionally, we observe that the photocurrent depends linearly on the light intensity in the limiting current region, and the corresponding incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) may reach approximately 80%. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the clusters adsorbed on the hydrogen-terminated Si surface are used to estimate and compare cluster adsorption energies on the surface as well as the H-binding energies, which is a descriptor for electrocatalytic activity.

Bio-inspired co-catalysts bonded to a silicon photocathode for solar hydrogen evolution

The production of fuels directly or indirectly from sunlight represents one of the major challenges to the development of a sustainable energy system. Hydrogen is the simplest fuel to produce and while platinum and other noble metals are efficient catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution, earth-abundant alternatives are needed for largescale use. We show that bio-inspired molecular clusters based on molybdenum sulfides and tungsten sulfides mimic natures enzymes for hydrogen evolution, molybdenum sulfides evolve hydrogen at a slightly higher overpotential than platinum when deposited on various supports. It will be demonstrated how this overpotential can be eliminated by depositing the same type of hydrogen evolution catalyst on p-type Si which can harvest the red part of the solar spectrum. Such a system could constitute the cathode part of a tandem dream device where the red part of the spectrum is utilized for hydrogen evolution while the blue part is reserved for the more difficult oxygen evolution. The samples have been illuminated with a simulated red part of the solar spectrum i.e. long wavelength (ë > 620 nm) part of simulated AM 1.5G radiation. The current densities at the reversible potential match the requirement of a photoelectrochemical hydrogen production system with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in excess of 10%. The experimental observations are supported by DFT calculations of the Mo3S4 cluster adsorbed on the hydrogen-terminated silicon surface providing insights into the nature of the active site.