Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ModCat4OER (Model Catalysts for understanding Oxygen Evolution Reaction activity)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-04-01 al 2023-03-31
The goal of this project, Model Catalysts for Understanding Oxygen Evolution Reaction, has been the investigation of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) employing well-defined oxide thin films and a multi-technique surface approach. The overpotential of this reaction is a limiting factor for the implementation of water splitting. Up to date, Ni-based catalysts with iron doping are the most promising ones in alkaline media. The mechanism of the reaction and the way how iron enhances the catalyst´s activity are still a matter of debate in literature. The project aimed to provide new insight into that matter. In addition, it also explored possible methods to increase the intrinsic activity of the studied catalysts.
The outcome of this project may help the development of efficient OER catalysts based on abundant transition metals, which could potentially help reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions by enabling the production of hydrogen through water splitting with renewable sources. For this reason, the project is of interest for the general public.
This project focused on pursuing three scientific objectives. The first one was the identification of the most electroactive composition and orientation of ordered nickel and iron-based oxides. The second objective was to gain a fundamental understanding of the effect Fe exerts on the activity of nickel oxide, and the third objective was to enhance the catalytic OER activity by combining magnetism and electrocatalysis. In addition to the scientific objectives, the project also prioritized the training in several areas necessary for my development as an independent researcher.
The outcome of this project may help the development of efficient OER catalysts based on abundant transition metals, which could potentially help reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions by enabling the production of hydrogen through water splitting with renewable sources. For this reason, the project is of interest for the general public.
This project focused on pursuing three scientific objectives. The first one was the identification of the most electroactive composition and orientation of ordered nickel and iron-based oxides. The second objective was to gain a fundamental understanding of the effect Fe exerts on the activity of nickel oxide, and the third objective was to enhance the catalytic OER activity by combining magnetism and electrocatalysis. In addition to the scientific objectives, the project also prioritized the training in several areas necessary for my development as an independent researcher.
To achieve the scientific objectives of this project, three work packages (WPs) with their corresponding tasks (Ts) were implemented. WP1 focused on sample preparation. For that, two tasks were defined: growth of thin films (T1.1) and Fe addition (T1.2). For T1.1 a reproducible protocol to grow ordered nickel oxide thin films under ultra-high vacuum conditions was established. Besides, the optimum conditions to add iron to nickel oxide were determined. WP2 comprises the electrochemical testing of the samples prepared in WP1. This was achieved by two tasks: OER with thin film catalysts (T2.1) and OER with Fe-modified catalysts (T2.2.). In this WP, the most active sample of the studied ones was determined. Besides, with the combination of ultra-high vacuum surface characterization techniques and operando approaches, unique effects of iron addition to nickel oxide during the reaction were identified. In WP3, magnetism and electrocatalysis, one task was performed: the study of a magnetic field in catalysis (T3.1). The results show that there is no effect on the activity when a magnetic field is applied at the conditions and catalysts studied in this work. In addition to achieving the scientific objectives, three work packages were dedicated to fulfilling the training objectives for the researcher: integration and training (WP4), dissemination and outreach (WP5), and progress monitoring and risk management (WP6).
The received training on new techniques includes the following experimental approaches: scanning probe microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption, comprising experimental work as well as analysis. Training on the latter three methods was possible by internal collaboration with other groups of the department (Structure and Reactivity group, Operando Hard X-ray spectroscopy group, Dynamics at Electrocatalytic interfaces group). In addition to the experimental skills, the workshop Python for Electrochemistry (organized by DynaKat) improved my capabilities for the data analysis using python. In the workshop Gender and/in science (organized by the gender equality office of the FHI), I received a specific training towards strategic career planning dedicated to woman in STEM. In the session Paving your future career (organized by YounGeCatS), I learnt about different ways that successful researchers followed to obtain their independent researcher position.
The results of the project were presented in five conferences and sessions. Each attended conference was focused on a distinct research field. Thus, the results were shared with researchers from surface science, electrochemistry, and engineering. In addition, two manuscripts are being drafted, which will summarize the main results obtained during the project. The project´s work reached high school students through my participation in an activity organized by members of the host department. This activity offers high school students the opportunity to undertake an internship period at our research facility. Besides, I gave a talk to researchers thinking about pursuing a scientific career, entitled Life and Academia in the early years and organized by CIC energiGUNE. The media used to disseminate the project was LinkedIn.
The received training on new techniques includes the following experimental approaches: scanning probe microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption, comprising experimental work as well as analysis. Training on the latter three methods was possible by internal collaboration with other groups of the department (Structure and Reactivity group, Operando Hard X-ray spectroscopy group, Dynamics at Electrocatalytic interfaces group). In addition to the experimental skills, the workshop Python for Electrochemistry (organized by DynaKat) improved my capabilities for the data analysis using python. In the workshop Gender and/in science (organized by the gender equality office of the FHI), I received a specific training towards strategic career planning dedicated to woman in STEM. In the session Paving your future career (organized by YounGeCatS), I learnt about different ways that successful researchers followed to obtain their independent researcher position.
The results of the project were presented in five conferences and sessions. Each attended conference was focused on a distinct research field. Thus, the results were shared with researchers from surface science, electrochemistry, and engineering. In addition, two manuscripts are being drafted, which will summarize the main results obtained during the project. The project´s work reached high school students through my participation in an activity organized by members of the host department. This activity offers high school students the opportunity to undertake an internship period at our research facility. Besides, I gave a talk to researchers thinking about pursuing a scientific career, entitled Life and Academia in the early years and organized by CIC energiGUNE. The media used to disseminate the project was LinkedIn.
The obtained results evidence the unique advantages of studying electrocatalytic reactions using ordered oxide thin films. Having the control over relevant properties of the surface (structure, composition, size, and morphology) allowed to obtain the intrinsic activity of the oxides towards OER. A multi-technique approach was followed to gain a better understanding of the reaction, including a detailed analysis of the catalyst’s surface. It combined ex situ and operando experiments performed at both, the host institute, and several synchrotron facilities around Europe. The conclusions obtained from the analysis of the results add valuable knowledge to the current state of the art of the matter, particularly regarding the role iron exerts on NiO catalysts during OER. In addition, working with such well-defined catalysts has been particularly helpful to study reported ways of increasing the activity of the catalyst.
The project´s dissemination activities reached a wide range of audience, including the scientific community and high school students. In these activities, the societal significance of studying the oxygen evolution reaction was highlighted, and the methodology employed in the project was shared. The main scientific observations were also explained. Furthermore, the personal experience of becoming a MSCA fellow was shared.
The project´s dissemination activities reached a wide range of audience, including the scientific community and high school students. In these activities, the societal significance of studying the oxygen evolution reaction was highlighted, and the methodology employed in the project was shared. The main scientific observations were also explained. Furthermore, the personal experience of becoming a MSCA fellow was shared.