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Grain boundary engineering for efficient and durable electrocatalysis

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Geng

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials)

  • Miquel Vega-Paredes

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials)

  • Zhenyu Wang

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials)

  • Colin Ophus

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Pengfei Lu

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Yan Ma

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials
    Delft University of Technology)

  • Siyuan Zhang

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials)

  • Christina Scheu

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials)

  • Christian H. Liebscher

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials)

  • Baptiste Gault

    (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials
    Imperial College London)

Abstract

Grain boundaries in noble metal catalysts have been identified as critical sites for enhancing catalytic activity in electrochemical reactions such as the oxygen reduction reaction. However, conventional methods to modify grain boundary density often alter particle size, shape, and morphology, obscuring the specific role of grain boundaries in catalytic performance. This study addresses these challenges by employing gold nanoparticle assemblies to control grain boundary density through the manipulation of nanoparticle collision frequency during synthesis. We demonstrate a direct correlation between increased grain boundary density and enhanced two-electron oxygen reduction reaction activity, achieving a significant improvement in both specific and mass activity. Additionally, the gold nanoparticle assemblies with high grain boundary density exhibit remarkable electrochemical stability, attributed to boron segregation at the grain boundaries, which prevents structural degradation. This work provides a promising strategy for optimizing the activity, selectivity, and stability of noble metal catalysts through precise grain boundary engineering.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Geng & Miquel Vega-Paredes & Zhenyu Wang & Colin Ophus & Pengfei Lu & Yan Ma & Siyuan Zhang & Christina Scheu & Christian H. Liebscher & Baptiste Gault, 2024. "Grain boundary engineering for efficient and durable electrocatalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52919-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52919-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Christina W. Li & Jim Ciston & Matthew W. Kanan, 2014. "Electroreduction of carbon monoxide to liquid fuel on oxide-derived nanocrystalline copper," Nature, Nature, vol. 508(7497), pages 504-507, April.
    3. Jakob Kibsgaard & Ib Chorkendorff, 2019. "Considerations for the scaling-up of water splitting catalysts," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 430-433, June.
    4. Tianou He & Weicong Wang & Fenglei Shi & Xiaolong Yang & Xiang Li & Jianbo Wu & Yadong Yin & Mingshang Jin, 2021. "Mastering the surface strain of platinum catalysts for efficient electrocatalysis," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7879), pages 76-81, October.
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