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Understanding the apparent fractional charge of protons in the aqueous electrochemical double layer

Author

Listed:
  • Leanne D. Chen

    (Stanford University
    California Institute of Technology)

  • Michal Bajdich

    (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

  • J. Mark P. Martirez

    (Princeton University)

  • Caroline M. Krauter

    (Princeton University
    Dynamostr. 13)

  • Joseph A. Gauthier

    (Stanford University)

  • Emily A. Carter

    (Princeton University)

  • Alan C. Luntz

    (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

  • Karen Chan

    (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

  • Jens K. Nørskov

    (Stanford University
    SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
    Technical University of Denmark)

Abstract

A detailed atomic-scale description of the electrochemical interface is essential to the understanding of electrochemical energy transformations. In this work, we investigate the charge of solvated protons at the Pt(111) | H2O and Al(111) | H2O interfaces. Using semi-local density-functional theory as well as hybrid functionals and embedded correlated wavefunction methods as higher-level benchmarks, we show that the effective charge of a solvated proton in the electrochemical double layer or outer Helmholtz plane at all levels of theory is fractional, when the solvated proton and solvent band edges are aligned correctly with the Fermi level of the metal (EF). The observed fractional charge in the absence of frontier band misalignment arises from a significant overlap between the proton and the electron density from the metal surface, and results in an energetic difference between protons in bulk solution and those in the outer Helmholtz plane.

Suggested Citation

  • Leanne D. Chen & Michal Bajdich & J. Mark P. Martirez & Caroline M. Krauter & Joseph A. Gauthier & Emily A. Carter & Alan C. Luntz & Karen Chan & Jens K. Nørskov, 2018. "Understanding the apparent fractional charge of protons in the aqueous electrochemical double layer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-05511-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05511-y
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