Perovskite-based model electrocatalysts

Student: Škvára Jan
Supervisor: Doc. Mgr. Josef Mysliveček, Ph.D.
ConsultantDoc. Mgr. Martin Setvín, Ph.D.
Status: Assigned

Abstract:

Global transformation to a renewable energy economy requires new technologies in chemical production and energy storage. In this context, catalyzed electrochemical reactions represent one of the most promising technologies [1]. Among the prospective electrocatalysts, perovskite-based materials represent a prominent group of materials because they are affordable and earth abundant with broadly tunable chemical and electrical properties [2]. A much needed mechanistic insight into electrocatalyzed reactions can be obtained by investigating so called model catalysts that are prepared in a step-by-step manner, starting from atomically defined single crystal surfaces and adding different elements of chemical and morphological complexity by surface nanopatterning [3] [4].

The proposed Thesis will deal with bottom-up fabrication of atomically defined perovskite-based surfaces and their characterization in model catalytic experiments [5]. The core of the project will be experimental investigations of stability, activity, and functionalization by surface nanopatterning of perovskite surfaces for elementary energy-related electrochemical reactions – H2 CO2, CO and O2 conversions in electrolyzers and fuel cells.

The proposed Thesis will be performed at the Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. The Thesis is a part of a broad research project aimed at obtaining atomic-level insight into physicochemical properties of perovskite surfaces [6]. For the purpose of the Thesis, Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and noncontact Atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) apparatuses are available, all equipped with in-situ electrochemical characterization of the samples.

Prerequisites: MSc in physics or chemistry, solid state physics/chemistry of advantage

Literature:

• [1] V. R. Stamenkovic, D. Strmcnik, P. P. Lopes, and N. M. Markovic, “Energy and fuels from electrochemical interfaces,” Nat. Mater., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 57–69, Jan. 2017, doi:10.1038/nmat4738.
• [2] M. Kubicek, A. H. Bork, and J. L. M. Rupp, “Perovskite oxides-a review on a versatile material class for solar-to-fuel conversion processes,” J. Mater. Chem. A, vol. 5, no. 24, pp. 11983–12000, 2017, doi:10.1039/c7ta00987a.
• [3] G. Ertl, “Reactions at surfaces: From atoms to complexity (Nobel lecture),” Angew. Chemie - Int. Ed., vol. 47, pp. 3524–3535, 2008, doi:10.1002/anie.200800480.
• [4] N. M. Markovic and P. N. J. Ross, “Surface science studies of model fuel cell electrocatalysts,” Surf. Sci.Reports, vol. 45, no. 4–6, pp. 117–229, Apr. 2002, doi:10.1016/S0167-5729(01)00022-X.
• [5] F. Faisal, C. Stumm, M. Bertram, F. Waidhas, Y. Lykhach, S. Cherevko, F. Xiang, M. Ammon, M. Vorokhta, B. Šmíd, T. Skála, N. Tsud, A. Neitzel, K. Beranová, K. C. Prince, S. Geiger, O. Kasian, T. Wähler, R. Schuster, M. A. Schneider, V. Matolín, K. J. J. Mayrhofer, O. Brummel, and J. Libuda, “Electrifying model catalysts for understanding electrocatalytic reactions in liquid electrolytes,” Nat. Mater., vol. 17, no. 7, pp. 592–598, Jul. 2018, doi:10.1038/s41563-018-0088-3.
• [6] M. Setvin, M. Reticcioli, F. Poelzleitner, J. Hulva, M. Schmid, L. A. Boatner, C. Franchini, and U. Diebold, “Polarity compensation mechanisms on the perovskite surface KTaO3 (001),” Science, vol. 359, no. 6375, pp. 572–575, Feb. 2018, doi:10.1126/science.aar2287.