Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “redox reaction kinetics”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

Exploring the kinetics of actinyl–EDTA reduction by ferrous iron using quantum-mechanical calculations

Here, the reduction of An(VI) (An = U, Np, and Pu) to An(IV) significantly decreases its solubility and mobility. This reaction can be hindered by complexation with inorganic (e.g., carbonate) or organic ligands. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is one such organic ligand that forms stable complexes with actinides. Therefore, it may enhance the mobility of actinides. However, the redox kinetics and mechanisms of actinyl (An(V/VI)O 2 +/2+ )–EDTA are not well characterized yet and are thus studied here using quantum-mechanical calculations. The principle is to approach the actinyl–EDTA and Fe 2+ (reductant) in small incremental steps and calculate the system energy at each distance. The overall reaction is then delineated into sub-processes (encounter frequency in bulk solution, formation of outer-sphere complex, transition from outer- to inner-sphere complex, and electron transfer), and reaction rates are determined for each sub-process. The formation of outer-sphere complexes occurs rapidly in microseconds to seconds over a wide range of actinyl concentrations (pM to μM); in contrast, the transition to the inner-sphere complex is relatively slow (milliseconds to a few seconds). Immediate electron transfer to form the pentavalent actinide is observed along the reaction path for Np(VI) and Pu(VI), but not for U(VI). Surprisingly, in acidic conditions, one of the carboxylic groups gets protonated in EDTA of [UO 2 (edta)] 2- rather than one of the amino groups. This process-based series of calculations can be applied to any redox reaction and allows the prediction of changes to the rate law and rate-limiting step in a more fundamental way for different environments

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Kinetic Limitations in Single-Crystal High-Nickel Cathodes

High-nickel cathodes attract immense interest for use in lithium-ion batteries, to boost Li-storage capacity while reducing cost. For overcoming the intergranular-cracking issue in polycrystals, single-crystals are considered an appealing alternative, but aggravating concerns on compromising the electrochemical kinetics of electrodes. We report here a quantitative assessment of electrochemical reaction in single-crystal LiNi 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.8 O 2 using operando hard X-ray microscopy/spectroscopy, revealing a strong dependence of redox kinetics on the state of charge (SOC) - being sluggish at low SOC while increasing rapidly as SOC increases both in the bulk electrode and individual particles. The observation is corroborated by transport measurements and finite-element simulation, indicating that the sluggish kinetics in single-crystals is governed by ionic transport at low SOC and may be alleviated through synergistic interaction with polycrystals integrated into a same electrode. Finally, with the elucidated mechanistic origin and alleviation solution of kinetic limitations in single-crystal high-Ni cathodes, this work constitutes a step forward in enabling their practical deployment.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Transient kinetic insights into selective propene oxidation over industrial bismuth molybdate catalysts

Selective oxidation of propene to acrolein over industrial multicomponent bismuth molybdate (BMO) catalysts significantly depends on reaction conditions that include operating parameters and catalyst state. Here, this work investigates selective propene oxidation in the intrinsic kinetic paradigm of Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) reactor by systematically varying catalyst redox state, temperature, and oxygen-to-propene feed ratio. A 93 % propene conversion with an acrolein yield of 80 % is achieved at elevated temperatures (450 °C) on oxidized catalysts under oxygen-rich conditions (O 2 :C 3 H 6 = 10). However, these conditions diminish acrolein-to-CO 2 selectivity due to enhanced total oxidation to CO 2 . In contrast, a reduced catalyst state, moderate temperature (350 °C), and lower oxygen feed (O 2 :C 3 H 6 = 1) nearly doubles the acrolein to-CO 2 selectivity, albeit at a lower acrolein yield (33 %). Transient kinetic studies together with a kinetic model that simplify the major product formation pathways in lumped non-elementary forms reveal that the availability of surface oxygen species plays a pivotal role in governing reaction pathways. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations on pure BMO catalysts inform the role of surface redox states on propene and oxygen activation barriers. Lattice oxygen at acrolein-selective sites drives both acrolein and CO 2 formation, while adsorbed oxygen at activation sites favors unselective CO 2 generation. This work establishes a critical relationship between transient product selectivity and surface oxygen availability, which is strongly influenced by catalyst redox state, feed ratio, and reaction temperature. These insights underscore the importance of dynamic reactor operation strategies and offer a foundation for designing next-generation propene oxidation processes with tunable acrolein selectivity.

42 - ENGINEERING↗

Mechanistic Understanding of Methane Combustion over Ni/CeO 2 : A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Approach

Catalytic oxidation of methane (CH 4 ) over nonprecious Ni/CeO 2 catalysts has received a lot of attention due to the large natural gas reserves found in North America and the prohibitive cost of palladium-based catalysts, commonly used for CH 4 oxidation. However, the catalytic mechanism of CH 4 oxidation over Ni/CeO 2 still remains unclear. Moreover, the parameters affecting the reaction rates, the interaction between nickel and CeO 2 , and the reaction intermediates are still not well understood. In this study, kinetic model fitting, CH 4 temperature-programmed reduction-mass spectroscopy (CH 4 TPR-MS), in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were combined to elucidate the mechanism of complete oxidation of CH 4 over Ni/CeO 2 . CH 4 TPR-MS showed that the complete oxidation of CH 4 over Ni/CeO 2 requires 55–120 °C lower compared to bare CeO 2 or Ni/quartz sand; complete oxidation of CH 4 took place when the surface oxygen species were abundant, while partial oxidation products (CO, H 2 ) were formed when the oxygen species were depleted. In situ DRIFTS showed that CH 3 , CH 2 , CO, and CO 2 were formed after CH 4 activation over Ni/CeO 2 , while CH 3 O species were not observed. Combining those findings with kinetic model fitting, a redox Mars–van Krevelen (MvK) mechanism showed the best description of the experimental observations. The MvK mechanism involves the reaction of dissociated oxygen species with gas-phase CH 4 while water inhibits the reaction rate by adsorbing on the oxidized sites. Moreover, CH 4 activation leads to the reduction of the active sites and oxygen vacancy formation followed by reoxidation of the active sites by gas-phase O 2 . A CH 4 oxidation reaction pathway over Ni/CeO 2 is proposed by DFT calculations. In summary, the findings shown here suggest that CH 4 oxidation over Ni/CeO 2 follows a redox MvK mechanism and provides guidance for the rational design of non-precious-metal catalysts for CH 4 oxidation reactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

3D-Printed Graded Electrode with Ultrahigh MnO 2 Loading for Non-Aqueous Electrochemical Energy Storage

Electrolytic manganese dioxide is one of the promising cathode candidates for electrochemical energy storage devices due to its high redox capacity and ease of synthesis. Yet, high-loading MnO 2 often suffers from sluggish reaction kinetics, especially in non-aqueous electrolytes. The non-uniform deposition of MnO 2 on a porous current collectors also makes it difficult to fully utilize the active materials at high mass loading. Here, a 3D printed graded graphene aerogel (3D GA) that contains sparsely separated exterior ligaments is developed to create large open channels for mass transport as well as densely arranged interior ligaments providing large ion-accessible active surface. The unique structural design homogenizes the thickness of electro deposited MnO 2 even at an ultrahigh mass loading of ≈70 mg cm -2 . The electrode achieves a remarkable volumetric capacity of 29.1 mA h cm -3 in the non-aqueous electrolyte. A Li-ion hybrid capacitor device assembled with a graded 3D GA/MnO2 cathode and graded 3D GA/VO x anode exhibits a wide voltage window of 0–4 V and a superior volumetric energy density of 20.2 W h L -1 . The findings offer guidance on 3D printed electrode design for supporting ultrahigh loading of active materials and developments of high energy density energy storage devices.

electrochemical energy storage↗

The Kinetics of Electron Transfer from CdS Nanorods to the MoFe Protein of Nitrogenase

Combining the remarkable catalytic properties of redox enzymes with highly tunable light absorbing properties of semiconductor nanocrystals enables the light-driven catalysis of complex, multielectron redox reactions. This work focuses on systems that combine CdS nanorods (NRs) with the MoFe protein of nitrogenase to drive photochemical N 2 reduction. We used transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) to examine the kinetics of electron transfer (ET) from CdS NRs to the MoFe protein. For CdS NRs with dimensions similar to those previously used for photochemical N 2 reduction, the rate constant for ET from CdS NRs competes with other electron relaxation processes, such that when a MoFe protein is bound to a NR, about one-half of the photoexcited electrons are delivered to the enzyme. The NR-MoFe protein binding is incomplete with more than one-half of the NRs in solution not having a MoFe protein bound to accept electrons. The quantum efficiency of ET (QE ET ) in these ensemble samples is similar to previously reported efficiencies of product (NH 3 and H 2 ) formation, suggesting that the enzyme utilizes the delivered electrons without major loss pathways. Our analysis suggests that QE ET , and therefore the photochemical product formation, is limited at the ensemble level by the NR-MoFe protein binding and at the single-complex level by the competitiveness of ET. We characterized ET kinetics for several CdS NRs samples with varying dimensions and found that for CdS NRs with an average diameter of 4.2 nm the ET efficiency dropped to undetectable levels, defining a maximum NR diameter that should be used to photochemically drive the MoFe protein. The work described here provides insights into the design of systems with increased control of photochemical N 2 reduction catalyzed by the MoFe protein of nitrogenase.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Cobalt(II) Phthalocyanine Substituents Tune the Electrocatalytic CO 2 Conversion to Methanol

Cobalt phthalocyanine (Co(II)Pc) and its derivatives are promising molecular electrocatalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO and methanol (CH 3 OH). Despite increasing interest, a detailed mechanistic understanding of how ligand substituents influence catalytic activity, selectivity, and efficiency remains limited. In this study, we employ density functional theory (DFT) to systematically investigate the influence of electron-donating groups (EDGs) and electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) on the electronic structure and redox properties of the Co(II)Pc electrocatalyst, and to elucidate CO 2 RR mechanistic pathways. Our results reveal that EWGs cause a positive shift in the reduction potentials, favor CO 2 binding over protonation of the Co metal center and promote downstream methanol formation at mild potentials. EDGs show opposite trends including favorable protonation steps, promoting a negative shift in the reduction potential, and facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which competes with the desired CO 2 RR pathway. Notably, CO dissociation is thermodynamically and kinetically unfavorable across all systems, positioning the redox potential versus CO dissociation energy as a key factor for methanol selectivity. Furthermore, these insights provide a predictive framework for rational catalyst design and underscore the critical role of electronic tuning in advancing molecular electrocatalysts for sustainable CO 2 conversion.

Alcohols↗

Automated Redox Titrations via Interdigitated Electrode Arrays: Application to the Mediated Electron Transfer Interrogation of Charge and Rate on Electrodeposited Polymers

Mediated electron transfer (MET) plays a crucial role in energy storage and conversion technologies such as redox targeting flow batteries (RTFBs), yet its experimental investigation often requires labor-intensive and low-throughput setups. To address this, we developed a microfabricated interdigitated electrode array (IDA) platform that enables automated, high-throughput electrochemical redox titration measurement to be performed to study the MET process. Our redox titration method enables simultaneous measurement of the charge capacity and rate of MET processes on a material or surface. Automated redox titration (ART) facilitates systematic investigation of the MET process across a broad parameter space, exemplified through the study of polypyrrole (PPy) and a pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetrone azo group-based polymer (PTAP), both redox-active polymers relevant to various energy storage applications. Using PPy as a model material, 500 redox titration measurements were conducted within 50 h, varying the electrode gap widths, polymer charging potentials, voltammetric scan rates, and electrolyte concentrations. Finite-element simulations confirmed the electrochemical responses and elucidated the kinetics of the MET reactions. Our automated methodology was further tested with PTAP, revealing a surprising charging potential dependence on the rate of MET. The automation, flexibility, and scalability of our redox titration platform pave the way not only for advanced studies of MET processes relevant to RTFBs, but also with implications in the understanding of next-generation energy storage materials, molecular electrocatalysis, and biosensing.

electrochemical analysis↗

Kinetic Control over Disproportionation Stabilizes Wurster’s Blue Catholyte for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries

Redoxmers are organic molecules that serve as charge carriers in redox flow batteries. While these materials are affordable and easy to source, insufficient stability of their charged states (radical ions) remains a challenge. A common reaction of these species is their disproportionation. Furthermore, this reversible reaction yields unstable multiply charged states, shifting the overall charge transfer equilibrium toward the decomposition products. Here we show how kinetic controls can be engineered into a redoxmer molecule to suppress these unwanted charge transfer reactions. This approach is used to transform Wurster's blue, which is historically the first example of a stable radical ion in organic chemistry, into an exceptionally durable redoxmer molecule that persists over thousands of electrochemical cycles.

Cations↗

Atomistic insight into the effects of electrostatic fields on hydrocarbon reaction kinetics

Reactive Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations are performed to provide insight into the effects of external electrostatic fields on hydrocarbon reaction kinetics. By comparing the results from MD and DFT, the suitability of the MD method in modeling electrodynamics is first assessed. Results show that the electric field-induced polarization predicted by the MD charge equilibration method is in good agreement with various DFT charge partitioning schemes. Then, the effects of oriented external electric fields on the transition pathways of non-redox reactions are investigated. Results on the minimum energy path suggest that electric fields can cause catalysis or inhibition of oxidation reactions, whereas pyrolysis reactions are not affected due to the weaker electronegativity of the hydrogen and carbon atoms. MD simulations of isolated reactions show that the reaction kinetics is also affected by applied external Lorentz forces and interatomic Coulomb forces since they can increase or decrease the energy of collision depending on the molecular conformation. In addition, electric fields can affect the kinetics of polar species and force them to align in the direction of field lines. These effects are attributed to energy transfer via intermolecular collisions and stabilization under the external Lorentz force. The kinetics of apolar species is not significantly affected mainly due to the weak induced dipole moment even under strong electric fields. The dynamics and reaction rates of species are studied by means of large-scale combustion simulations of n-dodecane and oxygen mixtures. Results show that under strong electric fields, the fuel, oxidizer, and most product molecules experience translational and rotational acceleration mainly due to close charge transfer along with a reduction in their vibrational energy due to stabilization. This study will serve as a basis to improve the current methods used in MD and to develop novel methodologies for the modeling of macroscale reacting flows under external electrostatic fields.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Revealing the Roles of CuF 2 /NiF 2 Incorporation in the Electrochemical Performance of FeF 3 Cathodes in Solid‐State Batteries

Mixed metal fluorides have been considered as a promising candidate to lower the voltage hysteresis of conversion-type iron fluoride cathodes, but their cycling stability is limited due to transition metal dissolution and interphase growth in liquid electrolyte batteries. Here, we study the role of incorporating CuF 2 and NiF 2 in the electrochemical performance of FeF 3 cathode in halide-based solid-state batteries to test whether we can transfer the kinetic benefit of low voltage hysteresis to solid-state batteries while using solid electrolyte to eliminate transition metal dissolution and stabilize the interphase. Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy results indicated the redox reactions are attributed to Cu 0 /Cu + and Fe 0 /Fe 2+ in 25CuF 2 -75FeF 3 and Ni 0 /Ni 2+ and Fe 0 /Fe 3+ in 10NiF 2 -90FeF 3 . While no apparent improvement in electrode kinetics can be observed, the incorporation of CuF 2 and NiF 2 can largely improve the cycling stability of FeF 3 cathodes. In conclusion, the results demonstrate the advantages of using solid-state concept to improve the cycling stability of conversion-type cathodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Revealing Progressive Degradation of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles During Thermochemical Redox Cycling via Operando STEM-EELS

Metal oxides are promising materials for long-duration thermochemical energy storage. Efforts to characterize their reaction kinetics, conversion rate, and morphological evolution during thermochemical cycling have largely focused on bulk and microscale measurements. However, the design of nanostructured metal oxides could improve the reaction reversibility and kinetics, warranting the development of platforms to investigate how these materials behave at the nanoscale. Here, we demonstrate the use of correlative, time-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy and imaging in an environmental transmission electron microscope for studying the thermochemical cyclability of cobalt oxide nanoparticles with high spatial and temporal resolution. The spectroscopic data reveal a striking decrease in reaction kinetics after the first cycle, resulting from sintering-driven nanostructural densification. Comparison between cycling in humid and dry air shows that atmospheric conditions can modulate reaction transition temperatures but have limited effects on sintering over multiple cycles, suggesting long-term durability will instead rely on synthetic and/or nanostructural modifications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA redox storage system development project

The operating temperature was raised from 25 C to 65 C, which enhanced the kinetics of the chromium electrode charging reactions. The design of the auxiliary electrochemical cell, which is used to keep both reactants at the same state of charge, was modified, leading to better and more stable performance. Preliminary testing has shown that the four tank mode of operation improves energy efficiency as much as 5 percentage points over the conventional two tank mode. Another variation in operating mode, the use of mixed reactants, potentially offers several very attractive advantages. Preliminary reactant cost studies lend further weight to the feasibility of the mixed reactant concept. Electrode studies show that reproducibility of performance is very dependent on the pyrolysis temperature at which the carbon/graphite felt substrate is formed. Membrane development work continued to concentrate on cost reduction and the enhancement of resistivity and selectivity.

Source record↗

A Carbonyl and Azo-Based Polymer Cathode for Low-Temperature Na-Ion Batteries

Due to flexible structure tunability and abundant structure diversity, redox-active polymers are promising cathode materials for developing affordable and sustainable Na-ion batteries (NIBs). However, polymer cathodes still suffer from low capacity, poor cycle life, and sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, we designed and synthesized a polymer cathode material bearing carbonyl and azo groups as well as extended conjugation structures in the repeating units. The polymer cathode exhibited exceptional electrochemical performance in NIBs in terms of high capacity, long lifetime, and fast kinetics. When coupled with a low-concentration electrolyte, it shows superior performance at low temperatures down to -50 °C, demonstrating great promise for low-temperature battery applications. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to study the reaction mechanism, interphase structure, and morphological evolution, confirming reversible redox reactions between azo/carbonyl groups in the polymer and Na + /electrons, a NaF-rich interphase, and high structure stability upon cycling. In conclusion, this work provides an effective approach to developing high-performance polymer cathodes for affordable, sustainable, and low-temperature NIBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

One-electron redox kinetics of aqueous transition metal couples Zn 2+/+ , Co 2+/+ , and Ni 2+/+ using pulse radiolysis

The one-electron redox potentials for aqueous metal couples Co 2+/+ and Ni 2+/+ have been investigated by using pulse radiolysis using their reactions with a series of reference compounds to establish the most positive upper limits of E 0 . Experiments with Zn + were also carried out to confirm the characteristic shape of the expected reduction kinetics. Both formate ions and t-BuOH were employed to scavenge ˙OH radicals and ˙H atoms. Kinetics and fitted first and second order reaction rates have been reported for reactions with methyl viologen, fluorescein, Ru(NH 3 ) 6 3+ , Co(en) 3 2+ , Co(sepulcrate) 3+ , Ru(bpy) 3 2+ , Cr(bpy)33+, and Ni(Me 6 [14]4,11-dieneN4) 2+ . Previous work demonstrated that both Co 2+ and Ni 2+ can be reduced by CO 2 ˙- radicals, giving a negative E 0 limit of -1.9 V vs. SHE. A definite reaction of Ni + with fluorescein di-anions provides a new upper limit of the Ni 2+/+ couple as -0.906 V vs. SHE. The reaction of Co + with Ru(bpy) 3 2+ has been confirmed, giving E 0 = -1.3 V vs. SHE as a rigorous upper limit of the Co 2+/+ couple. In the case of Co 2+/+ , kinetics were complicated by a self-catalyzed metal clustering phenomenon. Initiation rate constants of this process have also been reported.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Single-Molecule Detection of the Encounter and Productive Electron Transfer Complexes of a Photosynthetic Reaction Center

Small, diffusible redox proteins play an essential role in electron transfer (ET) in respiration and photosynthesis, sustaining life on Earth by shuttling electrons between membrane-bound complexes via finely tuned and reversible interactions. Ensemble kinetic studies show transient ET complexes form in two distinct stages: an “encounter” complex largely mediated by electrostatic interactions, which subsequently, through subtle reorganization of the binding interface, forms a “productive” ET complex stabilized by additional hydrophobic interactions around the redox-active cofactors. Here, using single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) we dissected the transient ET complexes formed between the photosynthetic reaction center-light harvesting complex 1 (RC-LH1) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides and its native electron donor cytochrome c 2 (cyt c 2 ). Importantly, SMFS resolves the distribution of interaction forces into low (~150 pN) and high (~330 pN) components, with the former more susceptible to salt concentration and to alteration of key charged residues on the RC. Thus, the low force component is suggested to reflect the contribution of electrostatic interactions in forming the initial encounter complex, whereas the high force component reflects the additional stabilization provided by hydrophobic interactions to the productive ET complex. Employing molecular dynamics simulations, we resolve five intermediate states that comprise the encounter, productive ET and leaving complexes, predicting a weak interaction between cyt c 2 and the LH1 ring near the RC-L subunit that could lie along the exit path for oxidized cyt c 2 . The multimodal nature of the interactions of ET complexes captured here may have wider implications for ET in all domains of life.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

OH Roaming during the Ozonolysis of α-Pinene: A New Route to Highly Oxygenated Molecules?

The formation of low-volatility organic compounds in the ozonolysis of α-pinene, the dominant atmospheric monoterpene, provides an important route to aerosol formation. Here, in this work, we consider a previously unexplored set of pathways for the formation of highly oxygenated molecules in α-pinene ozonolysis. Pioneering, direct experimental observations of Lester and co-workers have demonstrated a significant production of hydroxycarbonyl products in the dissociation of Criegee intermediates. Theoretical analyses indicate that this production arises from OH roaming-induced pathways during the OO fission of the vinylhydroperoxides (VHPs), which in turn come from internal H transfers in the Criegee intermediates. Ab initio kinetics computations are used here to explore the OH roaming-induced channels that arise from the ozonolysis of α-pinene. For computational reasons, the calculations consider a surrogate for α-pinene, where two spectator methyl groups are replaced with H atoms. Multireference electronic structure calculations are used to illustrate a variety of energetically accessible OH roaming pathways for the four VHPs arising from the ozonolysis of this α-pinene surrogate. Ab initio transition-state theory-based master equation calculations indicate that for the dissociation of stabilized VHPs, these OH roaming pathways are kinetically significant with a branching that generally increases from ~20% at room temperature up to ~70% at lower temperatures representative of the troposphere. For one of the VHPs, this branching already exceeds 60% at room temperature. For the overall ozonolysis process, these branching ratios would be greatly reduced by a limited branching to the stabilized VHP, although there would also be some modest roaming fraction for the nonthermal VHP dissociation process. The strong exothermicities of the roaming-induced isomerizations/additions and abstractions suggest new routes to fission of the cyclobutane rings. Such ring fissions would facilitate further autoxidation reactions, thereby providing a new route for producing highly oxygenated nonvolatile precursors to aerosol formation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗