Faisal M. Alamgir

Atomic packing and short-to-medium-range order in metallic glasses

Unlike the well-defined long-range order that characterizes crystalline metals, the atomic arrangements in amorphous alloys remain mysterious at present. Despite intense research activity on metallic glasses and relentless pursuit of their structural description, the details of how the atoms are packed in amorphous metals are generally far less understood than for the case of network-forming glasses. Here we use a combination of state-of-the-art experimental and computational techniques to resolve the atomic-level structure of amorphous alloys. By analysing a range of model binary systems that involve different chemistry and atomic size ratios, we elucidate the different types of short-range order as well as the nature of the medium-range order. Our findings provide a reality check for the atomic structural models proposed over the years, and have implications for understanding the nature, forming ability and properties of metallic glasses.

Rational SOFC material design: new advances and tools

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) offer great prospects for the most efficient and cost-effective utilization of a wide variety of fuels. However, their commercialization hinges on the rational design of low cost materials with exceptional functionalities. This article highlights some recent progress in probing and mapping surface species and incipient phases relevant to electrode reactions using in situ Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron based x-ray analysis, and multi-scale modeling of charge and mass transport. The combination of in situ characterization and multi-scale modeling is imperative to unraveling the mechanisms of chemical and energy transformation: a vital step for the rational design of next generation SOFC materials.

A Phenomenological Study of the Metal-Oxide Interface : The Role of Catalysis in Hydrogen Production from Renewable Resources

The truth about Cats: The metal-oxide interface of a Pd-Rh/CeO{sub 2} catalyst was studied in the context of developing active, selective and durable solid catalytic materials for the production of hydrogen from renewables. The presence of a stable contact between finely dispersed transition-metal clusters (Pd and Rh) on the nanoparticles of the CeO{sub 2} support leads to a highly active and stable catalyst for the steam reforming of ethanol.

Enhanced Photoassisted Water Electrolysis Using Vertically Oriented Anodically Fabricated Ti−Nb−Zr−O Mixed Oxide Nanotube Arrays

Self-ordered, highly oriented arrays of titanium-niobium-zirconium mixed oxide nanotube films were fabricated by the anodization of Ti(35)Nb(5)Zr alloy in aqueous and formamide electrolytes containing NH(4)F at room temperature. The nanostructure topology was found to depend on the nature of the electrolyte and the applied voltage. Our results demonstrate the possibility to grow mixed oxide nanotube array films possessing several-micrometer-thick layers by a simple and straightforward electrochemical route. The fabricated Ti-Nb-Zr-O nanotubes showed a ∼17.5% increase in the photoelectrochemical water oxidation efficiency as compared to that measured for pure TiO(2) nanotubes under UV illumination (100 mW/cm(2), 320-400 nm, 1 M KOH). This enhancement could be related to a combination of the effect of the thin wall of the fabricated Ti-Nb-Zr-O nanotubes (10 ± 2 nm) and the formation of Zr oxide and Nb oxide layers on the nanotube surface, which seems to slow down the electron-hole recombination in a way similar to that reported for Grätzel solar cells.

Comparative Study of the Capacity and Rate Capability of LiNi y Mn y Co1–2y O2 (y = 0.5, 0.45, 0.4, 0.33)

An unresolved question for the layered oxides is: what is the optimum value of y in the formula LiNi{sub y}Mn{sub y}Co{sub 1-2y}O{sub 2} for energy storage at moderate reaction rates? Here we report a systematic study of the specific capacity, rate capability and cycle life of Li{sub x}Ni{sub y}Mn{sub y}Co{sub 1-2y}O{sub 2}(y = 0.5, 0.45, 0.4, and 0.333). The voltage of the Li/y = 0.333 couple crosses over those of lower cobalt content for x 0.333 when charging above 4 V. Overall the y = 0.4 material has the optimum properties, having the highest theoretical capacity, less of the expensive cobalt and yet rate capabilities and capacity retention comparable to the y = 0.333 material.

Interface Architecture Determined Electrocatalytic Activity of Pt on Vertically Oriented TiO2 Nanotubes

The surface atomic structure and chemical state of Pt is consequential in a variety of surface-intensive devices. Herein we present the direct interrelationship between the growth scheme of Pt films, the resulting atomic and electronic structure of Pt species, and the consequent activity for methanol electro-oxidation in Pt/TiO(2) nanotube hybrid electrodes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements were performed to relate the observed electrocatalytic activity to the oxidation state and the atomic structure of the deposited Pt species. The atomic structure as well as the oxidation state of the deposited Pt was found to depend on the pretreatment of the TiO(2) nanotube surfaces with electrodeposited Cu. Pt growth through Cu replacement increases Pt dispersion, and a separation of surface Pt atoms beyond a threshold distance from the TiO(2) substrate renders them metallic, rather than cationic. The increased dispersion and the metallic character of Pt results in strongly enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation. This study points to a general phenomenon whereby the growth scheme and the substrate-to-surface-Pt distance dictates the chemical state of the surface Pt atoms, and thereby, the performance of Pt-based surface-intensive devices.

Elucidating the oxide growth mechanism on platinum at the cathode in PEM fuel cells

Simulations of platinum oxidation in literature have yet to fully replicate an experimental cyclic voltammogram. In this manuscript a mechanism for platinum oxidation is proposed based upon the results of in operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, where it was found that PtO2 is present at longer hold times. A new method to quantify extended X-ray absorption fine structure data is presented, and the extent of oxidation is directly compared to electrochemical data. This comparison indicated that PtO2 was formed at the expense of an initial oxide species. From previous literature studies it can be concluded that the rate of platinum oxidation is not a function of only potential and coverage. To that end, the concept of a heterogeneous oxide layer was introduced into the model, whereby place-exchanged PtO2 structures of varying energy states are formed through a single transition state. This treatment allowed, for the first time, the simulation of the correct current-potential behavior at varying scan rates and upper potential limits.

Architecture-Dependent Surface Chemistry for Pt Monolayers on Carbon-Supported Au

Pt monolayers were grown by surface-limited redox replacement (SLRR) on two types of Au nanostructures. The Au nanostructures were fabricated electrochemically on carbon fiber paper (CFP) by either potentiostatic deposition (PSD) or potential square wave deposition (PSWD). The morphology of the Au/CFP heterostructures, examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), was found to depend on the type of Au growth method employed. The properties of the Pt deposit, as studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV), were found to depend strongly on the morphology of the support. Specifically, it was found that smaller Au morphologies led to a higher degree of cationicity in the resulting Pt deposit, with Pt(4+) and Pt(2+) species being identified using XPS and XAS. For fuel-cell catalysts, the resistance of ultrathin catalyst deposits to surface area loss through dissolution, poisoning, and agglomeration is critical. This study shows that an equivalent of two monolayers (ML) is the low-loading limit of Pt on Au. At 1 ML or below, the Pt film decreases in activity and durability very rapidly due to presence of cationic Pt.

Layer-by-Layer Pt Growth on Polycrystalline Au: Surface-Limited Redox Replacement of Overpotentially Deposited Ni Monolayers

The catalyst system Pt/Au has been the subject of many studies recently, ranging from formic acid oxidation to oxidative studies for direct alcohol fuel cells. This paper outlines the use of overpotential Ni deposition as an intermediary for the creation of model overlayer/substrate Pt/Au catalysts with atomic monolayer (ML)-level thickness control. Deposition of Pt on polycrystalline Au was conducted via Ni surface-limited redox replacement. By electrodepositing a controlled layer of Ni on Au and exposing the resultant surface to Pt in solution, then repeating this technique for multiple iterations, Pt atomic MLs were electrolessly deposited on top of one another. The growth of Pt overlayers was demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The use of Ni as the replacement layer, as opposed to the commonly used Cu, opens up a range of metals for layer-by-layer deposition.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopic Studies of Lithium Insertion in Silver Vanadium Oxide Cathodes

Structural studies have been carried out on Ag{sub 2}V{sub 4}O{sub 11} (silver vanadium oxide, SVO) and Li{sub x}Ag{sub 2}V{sub 4}O{sub 11}, lithiated SVO with x=0.72, 2.13, and 5.59 using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Lithium-7 NMR indicates the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase layer on the x=0.72 sample and lithium intercalation into both octahedral and tetrahedral sites in the SVO lattice, and that most but not all of the Ag (I) is reduced prior to initiation of V(V) reduction. Vanadium-51 NMR studies of SVO and lithiated SVO show decreased crystallinity with increased lithiation, as previously reported. Silver XAS studies indicate the formation of metallic silver crystallites in all the lithiated samples. A comparison of X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy spectra for vanadium in these samples with those of reference compounds shows that some reduction of vanadium (V) occurs in the lithiated SVO with x=0.72 and increases with further lithiation leading to the formation of V(IV) and V(III) species. The results of this study indicate that vanadium(V) reduction occurs in parallel with silver (I) reduction during the initial stages of SVO lithiation, leading ultimately to the formation of vanadium (IV) and (III) species with further lithiation.