Mechanistic Studies of Catalytic Activity in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction by Operando Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Coupled with Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry

Project Information

ESRS-EMS for CO2RR

Grant agreement ID: 897014

DOI

10.3030/897014

Project closed

EC signature date 11 March 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 31 December 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 224 933,76

EU contribution

€ 224 933,76

Coordinated by

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ESRS-EMS for CO2RR (Mechanistic Studies of Catalytic Activity in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction by Operando Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Coupled with Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry)

Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2022-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The project has achieved the majority of its objectives and milestones for the period, with some changes and modifications of the goals with considerations over the technical challenges and unprecedented situations. In overall, I successfully developed operando spectroscopic techniques to study the electrochemical reaction mechanisms governing the electrocatalysis reactions related to clean energy applications including electrochemical CO2 reduction, nitrogen reduction, and hydrogen production. I also developed electrochemical approaches to reduce CO2 release through production of on-demand CO2-intensive chemicals and commodities from industrial wastes and side-products using clean and CO2-free electrical energy.
Due to COVID pandemic and restrictions upon traveling and on-site laboratory working, substantial delays and limitations were experienced in establishing planned spectroscopic facilities and experimental parts of the proposal. Out of the WPs, WP1, WP3 and WP4 have been fulfilled while WP2 was modified according to the experimental limitations mainly imposed by special situations of COVID pandemic.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The Work Packages, Milestones, and Deliverables of the project are outlined below. The project achieved and surpassed the planned objectives in WP1, WP3, and WP4. A secondment had been planned in WP2 to synthesize a variety of electrocatalysts for application in operando studies which could not be accomplished due the travel restrictions as a result of COVID pandemic. Therefore, the activities in WP2 was modified and replanned to cover collaboration with local research groups working on different aspects of electrochemical reactions for clean energy applications. In this regard, I started collaborative research to apply operando Raman spectroscopy in other areas including nitrogen reduction reaction, hydrogen production, and electrochemical energy storage devices such as Na/Li-ion batteries.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

List of my published publications:

1) Yadegari, H.; Zhou, Y.; and Ryan, M. P.; Section 2: What is the future of CO2 capture for CO2 utilization?, J. Phys. Materials 2022, 5, 032001.
2) Barrio, J.; Pedersen, A.; Feng, J.; Sarma, S. C.; Wang, M.; Li, A. Y.; Yadegari, H.; Luo, H.; Ryan, M. P.; Titirici, M.-M. Metal coordination in C 2 N-like materials towards dual atom catalysts for oxygen reduction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2022, 10 (11), 6023-6030.
3) Xu, Z.; Wang, J.; Guo, Z.; Xie, F.; Liu, H.; Yadegari, H.; Tebyetekerwa, M.; Ryan, M. P.; Hu, Y. S.; Titirici, M. M., The role of hydrothermal carbonization in sustainable sodium‐ion battery anodes. Adv. Energy Mater. 2022, 12 (18), 2200208.
4) Zhang, H.; Diao, J.; Ouyang, M.; Yadegari, H.; Mao, M.; Wang, J.; Henkelman, G.; Xie, F.; Riley, D. J., Enhancing the Performance of Bi2S3 in Electrocatalytic and Supercapacitor Applications by Controlling Lattice Strain. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 32 (48), 2205974.
5) Zhang, H.; Geng, S.; Ouyang, M.; Yadegari, H.; Xie, F.; Riley, D. J., A Self‐Reconstructed Bifunctional Electrocatalyst of Pseudo‐Amorphous Nickel Carbide@ Iron Oxide Network for Seawater Splitting. Advanced Science 2022, 9 (15), 2200146.
6) Westhead, O.; Spry, M.; Bagger, A.; Shen, Z.; Yadegari, H.; Favero, S.; Tort, R.; Titirici, M.; Ryan, M. P.; Jervis, R., The role of ion solvation in lithium mediated nitrogen reduction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2023.
7) Zhang, H.; Diao, J.; Ouyang, M.; Yadegari, H.; Mao, M.; Wang, M.; Henkelman, G.; Xie, F.; Riley, D. J., Heterostructured Core–Shell Ni–Co@ Fe–Co Nanoboxes of Prussian Blue Analogues for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Alkaline Seawater. Acs Catal 2023, 13, 1349-1358.

Another publication is being prepared and expected to be submitted in 1-2 months.

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