IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-52919-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52919-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-52919-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jakob Kibsgaard & Ib Chorkendorff, 2019. "Considerations for the scaling-up of water splitting catalysts," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 430-433, June.
    2. Bin Feng & Tatsuya Yokoi & Akihito Kumamoto & Masato Yoshiya & Yuichi Ikuhara & Naoya Shibata, 2016. "Atomically ordered solute segregation behaviour in an oxide grain boundary," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6, April.
    3. 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.
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jialun Gu & Lanxi Li & Youneng Xie & Bo Chen & Fubo Tian & Yanju Wang & Jing Zhong & Junda Shen & Jian Lu, 2023. "Turing structuring with multiple nanotwins to engineer efficient and stable catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Lingyou Zeng & Zhonglong Zhao & Fan Lv & Zhonghong Xia & Shi-Yu Lu & Jiong Li & Kaian Sun & Kai Wang & Yingjun Sun & Qizheng Huang & Yan Chen & Qinghua Zhang & Lin Gu & Gang Lu & Shaojun Guo, 2022. "Anti-dissolution Pt single site with Pt(OH)(O3)/Co(P) coordination for efficient alkaline water splitting electrolyzer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Darband, Ghasem Barati & Aliofkhazraei, Mahmood & Shanmugam, Sangaraju, 2019. "Recent advances in methods and technologies for enhancing bubble detachment during electrochemical water splitting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    4. Kaili Yao & Jun Li & Adnan Ozden & Haibin Wang & Ning Sun & Pengyu Liu & Wen Zhong & Wei Zhou & Jieshu Zhou & Xi Wang & Hanqi Liu & Yongchang Liu & Songhua Chen & Yongfeng Hu & Ziyun Wang & David Sint, 2024. "In situ copper faceting enables efficient CO2/CO electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Zezhou Li & Zhiheng Xie & Yao Zhang & Xilong Mu & Jisheng Xie & Hai-Jing Yin & Ya-Wen Zhang & Colin Ophus & Jihan Zhou, 2023. "Probing the atomically diffuse interfaces in Pd@Pt core-shell nanoparticles in three dimensions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. TsingHai Wang & Cheng-Di Dong & Jui-Yen Lin & Chiu-Wen Chen & Jo-Shu Chang & Hyunook Kim & Chin-Pao Huang & Chang-Mao Hung, 2021. "Recent Advances in Carbon Dioxide Conversion: A Circular Bioeconomy Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-31, June.
    7. Chao Zhan & Federico Dattila & Clara Rettenmaier & Antonia Herzog & Matias Herran & Timon Wagner & Fabian Scholten & Arno Bergmann & Núria López & Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, 2024. "Key intermediates and Cu active sites for CO2 electroreduction to ethylene and ethanol," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 9(12), pages 1485-1496, December.
    8. Ke Chen & Guo Li & Xiaoqun Gong & Qinjuan Ren & Junying Wang & Shuang Zhao & Ling Liu & Yuxing Yan & Qingshan Liu & Yang Cao & Yaoyao Ren & Qiong Qin & Qi Xin & Shu-Lin Liu & Peiyu Yao & Bo Zhang & Ji, 2024. "Atomic-scale strain engineering of atomically resolved Pt clusters transcending natural enzymes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Wenzhe Niu & Jie Feng & Junfeng Chen & Lei Deng & Wen Guo & Huajing Li & Liqiang Zhang & Youyong Li & Bo Zhang, 2024. "High-efficiency C3 electrosynthesis on a lattice-strain-stabilized nitrogen-doped Cu surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Pranav P. Sharma & Xiao‐Dong Zhou, 2017. "Electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels: a review on the interaction between CO2 and the liquid electrolyte," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(4), July.
    11. Tufa, Ramato Ashu & Chanda, Debabrata & Ma, Ming & Aili, David & Demissie, Taye Beyene & Vaes, Jan & Li, Qingfeng & Liu, Shanhu & Pant, Deepak, 2020. "Towards highly efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction: Cell designs, membranes and electrocatalysts," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    12. Shikai Liu & Yuheng Li & Di Wang & Shibo Xi & Haoming Xu & Yulin Wang & Xinzhe Li & Wenjie Zang & Weidong Liu & Mengyao Su & Katherine Yan & Adam C. Nielander & Andrew B. Wong & Jiong Lu & Thomas F. J, 2024. "Alkali cation-induced cathodic corrosion in Cu electrocatalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    13. Agnes E. Thorarinsdottir & Samuel S. Veroneau & Daniel G. Nocera, 2022. "Self-healing oxygen evolution catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Xiaoxia Chang & Sudarshan Vijay & Yaran Zhao & Nicholas J. Oliveira & Karen Chan & Bingjun Xu, 2022. "Understanding the complementarities of surface-enhanced infrared and Raman spectroscopies in CO adsorption and electrochemical reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Shouwei Zuo & Zhi-Peng Wu & Deting Xu & Rafia Ahmad & Lirong Zheng & Jing Zhang & Lina Zhao & Wenhuan Huang & Hassan Al Qahtani & Yu Han & Luigi Cavallo & Huabin Zhang, 2024. "Local compressive strain-induced anti-corrosion over isolated Ru-decorated Co3O4 for efficient acidic oxygen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    16. Hyesung Jo & Dae Han Wi & Taegu Lee & Yongmin Kwon & Chaehwa Jeong & Juhyeok Lee & Hionsuck Baik & Alexander J. Pattison & Wolfgang Theis & Colin Ophus & Peter Ercius & Yea-Lee Lee & Seunghwa Ryu & Sa, 2022. "Direct strain correlations at the single-atom level in three-dimensional core-shell interface structures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    17. Sheng-Chih Lin & Chun-Chih Chang & Shih-Yun Chiu & Hsiao-Tien Pai & Tzu-Yu Liao & Chia-Shuo Hsu & Wei-Hung Chiang & Ming-Kang Tsai & Hao Ming Chen, 2020. "Operando time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals the chemical nature enabling highly selective CO2 reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    18. Manjeet Chhetri & Mingyu Wan & Zehua Jin & John Yeager & Case Sandor & Conner Rapp & Hui Wang & Sungsik Lee & Cameron J. Bodenschatz & Michael J. Zachman & Fanglin Che & Ming Yang, 2023. "Dual-site catalysts featuring platinum-group-metal atoms on copper shapes boost hydrocarbon formations in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    19. Nwaji, Njemuwa & Fikadu, Boka & Osial, Magdalena & Gicha, Birhanu Bayissa & Warczak, Magdalena & Fan, Hao & Lee, Jaebeom & Giersig, Michael, 2024. "Atomically dispersed ruthenium in transition metal double layered hydroxide as a bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    20. Qian Dang & Haiping Lin & Zhenglong Fan & Lu Ma & Qi Shao & Yujin Ji & Fangfang Zheng & Shize Geng & Shi-Ze Yang & Ningning Kong & Wenxiang Zhu & Youyong Li & Fan Liao & Xiaoqing Huang & Mingwang Shao, 2021. "Iridium metallene oxide for acidic oxygen evolution catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52919-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.