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ECS

Electrochemical methods for electrocatalysis

Aliaksandr Bandarenka

Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, James-Franck-Str. 1, 1 D-85748 Garching, Germany Outline ECS Outline

- Introduction

Introduction Potentiostatic - Potentiostatic techniques (DC) Potentiodynamic RDE - Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) Impedance Summary - Methods involving forced convection

- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

- Summary

2 Introduction ECS System investigation

Probing signal 2

Introduction • Response

Potentiostatic Probing signal 1 Properties Potentiodynamic Modeling of the “black box” RDE

Impedance

Summary

Probing signal 3

„Classical“ electrochemical techniques:

Change the / apply a bias  measure current

Change / apply the current  measure the electrode potential 3 Introduction ECS An electrochemical system

- + Electrode (an conductor)

Introduction •

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic RDE ē ē Impedance

Summary

Electrolyte (an ionic conductor) Electrode (an electron conductor) electron (an Electrode

4 Introduction ECS

+ - H2O ↔ H + OH

Introduction •

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic + RDE 4H Impedance +4 ē - Summary 2OH 2H 2 -4ē

O2 + Response2H of+ the

Response of Response of 5 the interface 1 the interface 2 Introduction ECS A

- +

i Electrode (an electron conductor) Introduction • V Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic RDE ē ē Impedance

Summary

Electrolyte (an ionic conductor) Electrode (an electron conductor) electron (an Electrode

4 Introduction ECS A reference electrode

Potentiostat (invented by Hickling, 1941)

Introduction • - + Potentiostatic i Potentiodynamic

V ElectrodeCounter RDE

Impedance Summary ē ē

Reference Electrode Working

4 Introduction ECS Modelling of the system in case of a 3-electrode setup

WERE CE Introduction • Working Counter electrode Potentiostatic electrode

Potentiodynamic Reference

RDE electrode

Impedance

Summary

Working Counter electrode Electrolyte electrode Interface Interface

8 Introduction ECS Working electrode. A general model

Introduction • Response of

Potentiostatic the electrolyte

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance

Summary Response due to Response of Faradaic the EDL (electro- catalytic) reactions

9 Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS

Potentiostatic techniques

Introduction

Potentiostatic • Stationary electrodes

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance

Summary

In these kind of techniques the electrode potential is often kept constant for relatively long time while the current is measured

10 Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS

0.1

Introduction A / Current

Potentiostatic •

Potentiodynamic Overpotential ( η) Overpotential ( η) RDE 0 Impedance Summary 1.23 Electrode potential / V vs RHE

Historically probably the first techniques to investigate one of the simplest electrocatalytic reaction, the -0.1 Hydrogen Evolution Reaction 11 Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS Measurement scheme

potential time

Introduction

Potentiostatic • Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance

Summary IFaradaic = const

„Activity“

0 Icapacitive = 0

12 Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS More complicated measurement scheme

Staircase “scan” ) Introduction (slow!) Potentiostatic •

Potentiodynamic Potential

RDE

Impedance time

Summary quasi-stationary Potential Current response Current ( Current

time

13 Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS Results for HER obtained by J. Tafel for different metal

electrodes in H2SO4 Introduction in 1905 Potentiostatic • (Zeitschrift fur physikalische

Potentiodynamic Chemie", Vol. 50, pp 641- 712, 1905 ) RDE

Impedance Electrode potentialElectrode (MMS) Summary

14 Stationary DC current Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS

Oxygen Evolution at RuO2 and a Perovskite Sample

Introduction

Potentiostatic • RuO 2 sample

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance

Summary

Perovskite sample

15 Communications 38 (2014) 142 Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS Possible comparison of different catalysts. Particular case of the oxygen evolution

Catalyst 1 ) Introduction

Potentiostatic • Some Catalyst 2 Potentiodynamic reference RDE current

Impedance

Summary quasi-stationary Reference potentials (overpotentials) Current (

Potential vs RHE The lower the overpotential 16 the better is the catalyst Potentiostatic techniques (DC) ECS Main advantages and disadvantages

Advantages: Probably the most straightforward techniques in Introduction sense of the response interpretation, which is Potentiostatic • important for the comparison of different catalysts Potentiodynamic

RDE Disadvantages:

Impedance

Summary Do not distinguish different Faradaic processes, which occur simultaneously

Relatively slow, rather stationary systems are required A lot of a priori known information should be taken into account: e.g. oxide growth on the surface of a metal 17 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS

Potentiodynamic techniques

Introduction Potentiostatic Stationary electrodes Potentiodynamic •

RDE

Impedance

Summary

In these kind of techniques the electrode potential is constantly changed while the current is measured

18 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS (Cyclic)

The most widely used technique for acquiring qualitative and quantitative information about Introduction electrochemical (electrocatalytic) reactions Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic •

RDE Provides information on processes, i.e. Impedance interfacial electron transfer including adsorption

Summary processes

Gives a quick overview on electrode potentials where electrochemical processes take place

19 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS . Measurement scheme

EMAX

Introduction

Potentiostatic Efinal

Potentiodynamic •

RDE Einitial Impedance

Summary

Electrode Electrode potential EMIN

Time - Sweep direction - Sweep rate 20 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS Cyclic voltammetry. Measurement scheme

Pt(111) in 0.1M HClO 4, Ar-saturated

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic •

RDE

Impedance

Summary

21 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS Cyclic voltammogram

j = F( E)

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic •

RDE

Impedance H-UPD OH ads Summary „EDL-region“

Pt(111) in 0.1M HClO , Ar-saturated 22 4 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS A voltammogram of CO-monolayer oxidation

0.1M HClO 4

Introduction Potentiostatic CO-monolayer Potentiodynamic • oxidation RDE

Impedance

Summary

CO-monolayer OH adsorption ads

23 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS Voltammograms of CO-monolayer oxidation

Scan rate = 50 mV/s

Introduction Potentiostatic More active surfaces Potentiodynamic •

RDE

Impedance

Summary

24 ACS 7 (2017) 4355 Potentiodynamic techniques (DC) ECS Main advantages and disadvantages

Advantages: Non-stationary electrocatalytic systems can be Introduction investigated Potentiostatic Relatively fast and robust technique Potentiodynamic •

RDE

Impedance

Summary Disadvantages:

Does not distinguish different Faradaic processes, which occur simultaneously Often difficult to separate Faradaic and the double layer currents

25 Forced Convection ECS

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic Methods involving forced RDE • convection Impedance

Summary

26 Forced Convection ECS There are three typical modes of transport in ionic conductors Electrode Migration - charged particles move to equalize potential gradients in the Introduction electrolyte. Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE • Convection - material is moved by an Electrode Impedance external force such as flow, or rotation Summary of the electrode. Electrolyte

Diffusion - Movement of a species under the influence of a gradient of chemical potential (practically, a concentration gradient). 27 Forced Convection ECS Why hydrodynamic methods?

Mass transfer rates are larger than just by diffusion alone, therefore the relative contribution of mass transfer to electron transfer kinetics is relatively small Introduction

Potentiostatic Rather quick steady-state can be reached; the double- Potentiodynamic layer charging can be excluded at steady-state RDE • Insulating parts Impedance Summary

One of few convective electrode systems for which the hydrodynamic equations and the convective-diffusion problem have been solved Disk electrodes analytically 28 Forced Convection ECS Why hydrodynamic methods?

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE •

Impedance

Summary

29 Forced Convection ECS Rotating disk electrodes

Potentiostatic Electrode Introduction experiments

Potentiostatic Electrolyte Potentiodynamic

RDE •

Impedance

Summary Potentiodynamic experiments Examples: Oxygen reduction Hydrogen oxidation

Oxygen evolution Hydrogen evolution

30 Forced Convection ECS Rotating disk electrodes

Introduction

Potentiostatic Ar-saturated HClO 4

Potentiodynamic reduction “signature”Oxygen

RDE • O2-saturated HClO 4

Impedance

Summary -2 jlim / mA cm / mA j

31

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15 , 12998 Forced Convection ECS Rotating disk electrodes

1/2 Introduction jlim = BSelectrode C0ω Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE •

Impedance

Summary 1 1 1 = + j jkinetic jlim

32 Forced Convection ECS Rotating disk electrodes. O2 reduction

Introduction Often important for Potentiostatic research Potentiodynamic reference point RDE •

Impedance

Summary

33 Chemical Science 8 (2017) 2283 Forced Convection ECS Rotating disk electrodes.

O2 reduction activity ranking

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE •

Impedance

Summary

34 Chemical Science 8 (2017) 2283 Forced Convection ECS Main advantages and disadvantages

Advantage:

Introduction Fast. Powerful tool to investigate kinetics of

Potentiostatic electrochemical reactions and test catalytic activities when mass transport plays an important Potentiodynamic role RDE •

Impedance

Summary Disadvantages:

Acquisition of the integral response. Difficult to distinguish between different Faradaic constituents

Problems with fast accumulation of impurities at the electrode surface during the experiments

35 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic Electrochemical Impedance RDE Spectroscopy Impedance •

Summary

36 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Basics of EIS: data acquisition

Electrochemical system CE RE Introduction

Potentiostatic 10mV

Potentiodynamic

RDE WE Impedance • probing signal response

Summary E = E bias + E ac sin( ωit) I = I 0+Iac sin( ωit+ θ)

at different ac frequencies ωi

The “output” is:

1. Modulus of impedance |Z ω|, i.e. the ratio Eac / Iac

2. A value of the phase shift θω between the probing signal E and the current response I 37 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Typical impedance spectra

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance •

Summary

ImZ =|Z|sin( θ) ReZ = |Z|cos( θ) 38 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Linearity ( determines probing signal amplitude )

a resistor an electrochemical system i i Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic „Linear “ RDE

Impedance • E E

Summary

The amplitude of the ac probing signal in EIS experiments should be small in order to consider our system (quasi) linear.

Depending on the system, the amplitude of 1-10 mV is 39 acceptably small Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Quasi-stationarity

Complications:

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance •

Summary ≠ ≠ ≠

time Possible solution is to minimize the time for the measurements

40 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Data analysis

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic Electrolyte

RDE The double layer

Impedance •

Summary Electrochemical reactions

Dolin-Erschler-Randles approximation (1940-1947) 41 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Equivalent electric circuit is a schematic representation of equations describing the electrochemical system

qM – excess surface charge density on the metal; f(E, v i….)

Introduction i – current due to electrochemical reaction f(E, C , v ….) Potentiostatic s i ρ – specific resistance of the electrolyte Potentiodynamic Cdl

RDE l – distance between electrodes Rel Impedance • sel – electrode surface area Rct Summary g – empirical constant depending on the cell geometry, positions of the electrodes etc.

Rct Rct Cdl Rel

42 Rct Cdl Rct Cdl Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Solving the inverse problem: Randles circuit

EIS spectrum

-1 Introduction Cdl =20 F Cdl = ( ωRct ) Potentiostatic Rel =10 Potentiodynamic R =100 ct Rct =100 RDE

Impedance •

Summary Rel =10

n- number of ; F = 96485 C/mol; Ci –surface concentrations of electroactive 43 species, ki- het. react. rate constants; Fi(θ)- some functions of the surface coverage (e.g. θ or 1- θ in case of Langmuir adsorption isotherm) Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Equivalent electric circuit elements are building blocks of EIS models

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance •

Summary

CPE (constant phase element) is a semi-empirical element. It can describe many phenomena, however the exact interpretation of its parameters n and Q is not straightforward and will depend 44 on system properties, models selected etc. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS

- Bad news about physical impedance models:

1. It is quite difficult to derive analytical equations for the physical EIS models. 2. Many of the parameters in these equations are complex Introduction functions of the electrode potential, e.g.

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic ZW RDE

Impedance • Surface concentrations CO and CR are normally kf = k0exp[-αnF( E-E0)/RT] not equal to the respective bulk concentrations Summary c and c . Both C and C are complex functions kb = k0exp[(1-α)nF( E-E0)/RT] O R O R of the electrode potential

- However the good news are:

1. For many of typical electrochemical reactions the analytical equations for the Faradaic impedance are known (someone else did this work for us). We only need to assemble the model (equivalent circuit) from the known components using some relatively simple rules.

45 2. There are many ways how to simplify the EIS analysis to extract valuable physico-chemical parameters. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Picture from the past: “graphical analysis”

Introduction - Model postulation, e.g.

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance •

Summary

- Model verification: just semi-quantitative 46 or visual inspection! Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS The first software for the impedance data fitting using CNLS (1986): a new era of EIS

By Bernard A. Boukamp

Introduction Software: EQUIVCRT Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic Solid State lonics , 18-19 (1986) 136

RDE Impedance • By James R. MacDonald Summary Software: LEVM

Solid State Ionics , 24(1) (1987) 61

Optimisation algorithm: Levenberg–Marquardt (iterative)

- Powerful algorithms for the check of data quality - Careful and more objective model verification 47 - More accurate estimation of parameters of the models Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Accurate analysis of EIS data is the key

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE

Impedance •

Summary

48 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Revealing phase transitions in adsorbate layers

−1 −φ Zi = C′DL (jω) , Introduction ′ Potentiostatic where C DL is the Potentiodynamic parameter, which is proportional to the double RDE layer capacitance, Impedance • φ ≤ 1 is the CPE-exponent, Summary which is directly related to the

49 Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ECS Revealing phase transitions in adsorbate layers

O2-free 0.1M HClO 4

Introduction

Potentiostatic

Potentiodynamic

RDE 1/3ML OH* with H 2O Impedance •

Summary

1/3ML O*

O -sat 0.1M HClO 1/4ML O* 2 4 50 Langmuir 2011, 27(5), 2058 ECS Comparison between techniques Each technique provides information about only one or several aspects of interfacial processes

Techniques Target aspects Advantages Disadvantages

Acquisition of the Averaged Fast. Creates first integral response. Voltammetries, information about understanding of the Does not electrochemical system under static “distinguish” processes at the investigation. electrodes contributions from interface Investigation of non- stationary systems different processes

Averaged Fast. Powerful tool to Acquisition of the Voltammetries, information about investigate kinetics of integral response. electrochemical electrochemical Problems with rotating disc reactions under reactions, test accumulation of (ring) controllable mass catalytic activities and impurities at the electrodes transport of detect reaction electrode surface electroactive species intermediates during the experiments

Information about Relatively slow. different Powerful tool to reveal Frequent ambiguity constituents of physical models of the in the model Impedance simultaneously interface. Separates selection: one should spectroscopy running contributions from use a priori electrochemical different processes knowledge or processes. which occur additional Averaged for the simultaneously information from electrode surface other techniques 51 ECS

Where are the most active electrocatalytic centers?

52 ECS The Sabatier principle ( a qualitative concept ) (1911) The interactions between the catalyst and the reaction intermediates should be just right.

The catalyst surface should not bind them neither too strong nor too weak.

Paul Sabatier (1854-1941)

Imagination of a catalyst surface?

53 ECS The catalyst surface is not uniform?

“Most finely divided catalysts must have structures of great complexity. <…..> In general, we should look upon the surface as consisting of a checkerboard.” (1922)

Irving Langmuir (1881 –1957)

54 ECS The concept of active sites

“A catalyzed chemical reaction is e.g. not catalyzed over the entire solid surface of the catalyst but only at certain ‘active sites’ or centers” (1925)

Hugh Stott Taylor (1890-1974)

Namely the active sites at the surface should 55 bind the intermediates “just right” ECS Key initial procedures in (heterogeneous) electro-catalysis

Identification of the Optimization of the nature of the most electronic (adsorption) active sites properties of those active sites ? ?

? Maximisation of the density of those sites 56 at the surface ECS A big problem in heterogeneous catalysis: the nature of active sites is known only for few reactions and only few types of materials

I. Chorkendorff, J. W. Niemantsverdriet, Concepts of Modern Catalysis and Kinetics

57 ECS Identification of active sites using EC-STM?

58 J. Pfisterer, Y. Liang, O. Schneider, A.S. Bandarenka // Nature 549 (2017) 74 ECS Identification of active sites using electrochemical STM? Oxygen reduction reaction at a Pt(111) terrace pH=1

J. Pfisterer, Y. Liang, O. Schneider, A.S. Bandarenka // Nature 549 (2017) 74 59 ECS Hydrogen evolution at a Pt(111) terrace

pH=1

60 J. Pfisterer, Y. Liang, O. Schneider, A.S. Bandarenka // Nature 549 (2017) 74 ECS Oxygen reduction at a Pt(111)

pH=1

61 J. Pfisterer, Y. Liang, O. Schneider, A.S. Bandarenka // Nature 549 (2017) 74 ECS Hydrogen evolution at Au(111)/Pd(ML)

pH=1

62 J. Pfisterer, Y. Liang, O. Schneider, A.S. Bandarenka // Nature 549 (2017) 74 ECS Hydrogen evolution at Au(111)/Pt(ML) „OFF“ „ON“

Au Au

Pt Pt Au Au

63 Y. Liang, C. Csoklich, A.S. Bandarenka // in preparation ECS Oxygen electroreduction at Pt(111) in 0.1M LiOH

ORR ON

ORR OFF

ORR ON

ORR OFF

64 Y. Liang, D. McLaughlin, A.S. Bandarenka // in preparation ECS Oxygen electroreduction at Pt(111) in 0.1M LiOH

OFF

ON

65 Y. Liang, D. McLaughlin, A.S. Bandarenka // in preparation ECS Oxygen electroreduction at Pt(111) in 0.1M LiOH

66 Y. Liang, D. McLaughlin, A.S. Bandarenka // in preparation ECS Oxygen electroreduction at Pt(111) in 0.1M KOH

ORR ON

ORR OFF

ORR ON

67 Y. Liang, D. McLaughlin, A.S. Bandarenka // in preparation ECS Oxygen electroreduction at Pt(111) in 0.1M KOH

68 Y. Liang, D. McLaughlin, A.S. Bandarenka // in preparation ECS Oxygen electroreduction at Pt(111) in 0.1M CsOH

Compare with:

69 Y. Liang, D. McLaughlin, A.S. Bandarenka // in preparation Summary ECS Forward vs inverse problems We know the model We calculate the response

Forward problem:

Introduction

Potentiostatic Potentiodynamic We measure the response ??? RDE

Impedance Inverse problem: …

Summary • 2 3 y = a 0+a 1x+a 2x +a 3x +…???

The inverse problem consists of using the actual result of some measurements to infer the model and get the parameters that characterize the system.

While the forward problem has (in deterministic physics) a unique solution, the inverse problem does not

Learn more : Albert Tarantola . Inverse problem theory and methods for model parameter 70 estimation. Siam 2005, ISBN 0-89871-572-5 ECS

Thank you for your attention!

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