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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.

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At least 1,333 records · Page 74
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Quantum Chemical Study of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Effects on Combustion Kinetics

In oxy-fuel combustion, the pure oxygen (O 2 ), diluted with CO 2 is used as oxidant instead air. Hence, the combustion products (CO 2 and H 2 O) are free from pollution by nitrogen oxides. Moreover, high pressures results in the near-liquid density of CO 2 at supercritical state (sCO 2 ). Unfortunately, the effects of sCO 2 on the combustion kinetics are far from being understood. In order to assist in this understanding, in this work we are using quantum chemistry methods. Here we investigate potential energy surfaces of important combustion reactions in the presence of carbon dioxide melocule. All transition states, reactant and product complexes are reported for three reactions: H 2 CO+HO 2 →HCO+H 2 O 2 (R1), 2HO 2 →H 2 O 2 +O 2 (R2), and CO+OH→CO 2 +H (R3). In the reaction R3, covalent binding of CO 2 to OH radical and then CO molecule opens a new pathway, including hydrogen transfer from oxygen to carbon atoms followed by CH bond dissociation. Compared to bimolecular OH+CO mechanism, this pathway reduces the activation barrier by 5 kcal/mol, and is expected to accelerate the reaction. This is the first report of autocatalytic effect in combustion. In case of hydroperoxyl self-reaction 2HO 2 →H 2 O 2 +O 2 the intermediates, containing covalent bonds to CO 2 were found not to be competitive. However, the spectator CO 2 molecule is able to stabilize the cyclic transition state and lower the barrier by 3 kcal/mol. Formation of covalent intermediates was also discovered in H 2 CO+HO 2 →HCO+H 2 O 2 reaction, but these specie lead to substantially higher activation barriers which makes them unlikely to play role in hydrogen transfer kinetics. The van der Waals complexation with carbon dioxide also stabilized transition state and reduces reaction barrier. Lastly, these results indicate that CO 2 environment is likely to have catalytic effect on combustion reactions, which needs to be included in kinetic combustion mechanisms in supercritical CO 2 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Different Kinetic Reactivities of Electrons in Distinct TiO 2 Nanoparticle Trap States

Electrons added to TiO 2 and other semiconductors often occupy trap states, whose reactivity can determine the catalytic and stoichiometric chemistry of the material. We previously showed that reduced aqueous colloidal TiO 2 nanoparticles have two distinct classes of thermally equilibrated trapped electrons, termed Red/e – and Blue/e – . Presented here are parallel optical and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) kinetic studies of the reactivity of these electrons with solution-based oxidants. Optical stopped-flow measurements monitoring the reactions of TiO 2 /e – with substoichiometric oxidants showed a surprising pattern: an initial fast (seconds) decrease in TiO 2 /e – absorbance followed by a secondary, slow (minutes) increase in the broad TiO 2 /e – optical feature. The analysis revealed that the fast decrease is due to the preferential oxidation of the Red/e – trap states and the slow increase results from the re-equilibration of electrons from Blue/e - to Red/e - states. This kinetic model was confirmed by freeze-quench EPR measurements. Quantitative analysis of the kinetic data demonstrated that Red/e – react ~5 times faster than Blue/e – with the nitroxyl radical oxidant 4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl (4-MeO-TEMPO). Similar reactivity patterns were also observed in oxidations of TiO 2 /e – by O 2 , which like 4-MeO-TEMPO is a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) oxidant, and by the pure electron transfer (ET) oxidant potassium triiodide (KI 3 ). Furthermore, this suggests that the faster intrinsic reactivity of one trap state over another on the seconds–minutes time scale is likely a general feature of reduced TiO 2 reactivity. This differential trap-state reactivity is likely to influence the performance of TiO 2 in photochemical/electrochemical devices, and it suggests an opportunity for tuning catalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

O 2 Oxidation and Sublimation Kinetics of Single Silicon Nanoparticles at 1200–2050 K: Variation of Reaction Rates, Evolution of Structural and Optical Properties, and the Active-to-Passive Transition

Sublimation and O 2 etching kinetics for a series of individual silicon (Si) nanoparticles (NPs) were studied for NP temperatures (T NP ) from 1200 to 2050 K, using a single NP mass spectrometry technique. Sublimation was significant for T NP > 1700 K, with rates reasonably well fit to Arrhenius kinetics, but evolving, particularly during initial heating. O 2 etching efficiencies varied from NP-to-NP and with changing T NP , but also evolved dramatically over time. For T NP ≤ 1500 K, NPs were observed to passivate after losing 30 to 50% of the initial NP mass. At higher T NP , etching efficiency decreased over time, but never passivated. Interestingly, bulk Si passivation has not been observed for the range of T NP and O 2 pressures used here, and a model was developed to test the effects of several NP-specific mechanistic parameters on both the initial and time-dependent etching behavior. As a result, the optical properties of the hot NPs were also found to evolve as the NPs etched, particularly during the initial fast mass loss, and correlations between emission intensities and etching kinetics were examined.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

First-Principles Insights into the Thermocatalytic Cracking of Ammonia-Hydrogen Blends on Fe(110). 2. Kinetics

Ammonia (NH 3 ) is an energy-rich molecule that is routinely synthesized from nitrogen (N 2 ) and hydrogen (H 2 ). NH 3 ’s more favorable physical properties compared to H 2 suggests it may offer a way to more conveniently store, transport, and, when needed, extract H 2 via thermal decomposition. However, the high kinetic barrier and endoergicity to decompose to H 2 and N 2 require high temperatures. The standard reaction free energy indicates nearly 100% thermodynamic conversion to the diatomic molecules only at ~673 K and higher. However, even at these temperatures, a catalyst, e.g., iron (Fe), is needed for favorable kinetic conversion. Here, in this study, we explore via density functional theory the kinetics of NH 3 decomposition on the most stable facet of body-centered cubic Fe, namely, (110), under typical high-temperature and finite-pressure operando conditions. We predict coverage-dependent energetics of elementary surface reactions, often neglected in atomic-scale modeling. From these models, we find the recombinative desorption of adsorbed N as N 2 is rate-determining at 573.15–773.15 K and even at an extreme case of 1173.15 K. From microkinetic modeling, we find that the steady-state turnover frequencies (TOFs) for N 2 and H 2 generation rates (r$_{H_2}$) depend exponentially on temperature. The catalyst achieves a steady-state TOF of 36.4 s –1 and an r$_{H_2}$ of 0.107 μmol cm –2 s –1 for a feed of 1.8 bar NH 3 with 0.2 bar H 2 at 1173.15 K. However, at 773.15 K, with the same feed composition and velocity, the steady-state TOF and r$_{H_2}$ decrease to 0.14 s –1 and 4.10 × 10 –4 μmol cm –2 s –1 , respectively, as the process is significantly hindered by slow N 2 desorption. Although at first glance counterintuitive, our simulations suggest that surface modifications that reduce Fe’s reactivity toward NH x species should enhance its overall NH 3 decomposition activity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Kinetics of the Coherent Stage of Hydroxide Corrosion on Li 2 O-Covered LiH

The capability to model LiOH growth on vacuum-baked LiH is a necessary precursor to making kinetic predictions of undesirable hydrogen outgassing from corroded LiH materials when placed in sealed-system applications. Here, in this work, LiH samples with initial LiOH surface corrosion layers less than 1.1 μm were outgassed by vacuum baking at high temperature to convert LiOH to Li 2 O. Diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy was used to measure the subsequent LiOH regrowth during exposure to 25–375 ppm of H 2 O vapor at room temperature. Logarithmic kinetics best model the growth of this coherent hydroxide corrosion layer (up to 1.5 μm) on previously vacuum-baked LiH samples. The logarithmic kinetics are attributed to the dissociation of H 2 O on the corrosion layer and the establishment of a H + /OH – electric field across the thickening LiOH corrosion layer. A time-dependent model of LiOH corrosion growth as a function of both initial LiOH thickness before vacuum baking and moisture partial pressures during re-exposure was developed to help researchers better assess the unwanted hydrogen outgassing potential from LiH/LiD materials.

Matt, Sarah M. [Lawrence Livermore National Labora↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ab Initio Thermodynamics and Kinetics for Coalescence of Two-Dimensional Nanoislands and Nanopits on Metal (100) Surfaces

Postdeposition coalescence or sintering of pairs of lowstrain two-dimensional nanoislands and nanopits on unreconstructed metal (100) surfaces is typically mediated by diffusion along step edges, and is highly sensitive to the associated kinetics. Thus, for selected systems, we provide an ab initio density functional theory (DFT) level description of both system thermodynamics and kinetics. Specifically, we assess lateral pair and trio interactions both conventionally with adatoms at 4-fold hollow adsorption sites, and unconventionally with one adatom at the bridge-site transition state for hopping. Rather than use standard cluster expansion algorithms, these interactions are determined subject to the constraint that key step-edge properties are recovered exactly. Together, both classes of interactions determine barriers for edge diffusion processes for any local step configuration, including diffusion along close-packed $\langle$110$\rangle$ edges, kink rounding, meandering processes at kinked $\langle$100$\rangle$ steps, and extraction processes at pit corners. Our formalism applies for homoepitaxial systems, and also for several lattice-matched heteroepitaxial systems. The barriers provide input for stochastic models of nanocluster evolution, which are analyzed by kinetic Monte Carlo simulation. Such modeling with DFT energetics from the PBEsol functional recovers extensive experimental observations of both the time scale and the island-size dependence for sintering of Ag islands on Ag(100). In conclusion, description of pit sintering on Ag(100) is more delicate, being sensitive to specific unconventional trio interactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Structure and Desorption Kinetics of Acetonitrile Thin Films on Pt(111) and on Graphene on Pt(111)

Acetonitrile thin films were prepared on Pt(111) and on graphene on Pt(111) using molecular beam techniques. Temperature programed desorption (TPD) experiments of acetonitrile on Pt(111) displayed first-order kinetics for monolayer desorption and zero-order kinetics for multilayer desorption. We used reflection adsorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) to characterize the orientation of the monolayer on Pt(111). Acetonitrile molecules have been shown to adopt a bridging structure where the C=N bond breaks to form two single bonds to underlying platinum atoms. When Tdeposition = 120 K our RAIRS spectra are consistent with this bridging configuration. However, when Tdeposition was lowered to 60 K molecules retained the C=N bond and adopted a vertical orientation with the nitrogen closest to the platinum. On graphene, the TPD experiments show that both the monolayer and multilayer desorb with zero-order kinetics. Our RAIRS spectra suggest that the monolayer consists of acetonitrile molecules oriented with their molecular axes parallel to the graphene substrate. This orientation did not change when Tdeposition was varied from 60 to 120 K. Our results provide a more complete picture of how acetonitrile molecules interact with Pt(111) and with graphene surfaces.

desorption tin films, molecules, thin films, desor↗
DOE OSTI2023

Kinetic Suppression of Photoinduced Halide Migration in Wide Bandgap Perovskites via Surface Passivation

In this work, we study the kinetics of photoinduced halide migration in FA 0.8 Cs 0.2 Pb(I 0.8 Br 0.2 ) 3 wide (~1.69 eV) bandgap perovskites and show that halide migration slows down following surface passivation with (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS). We use scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) to probe the contact potential difference (CPD) shift under illumination and the kinetics of surface potential relaxation in the dark. Our results show that APTMS-passivated perovskites exhibit a smaller CPD shift under illumination and a slower surface potential relaxation in the dark. We compare the evolution of the photoluminescence spectra of APTMS-passivated and unpassivated perovskites under illumination. We find that APTMS-passivated perovskites exhibit more than 5 times slower photoluminescence red-shift, consistent with the slower surface potential relaxation as observed by SKPM. In conclusion, these observations provide evidence for kinetic suppression of photoinduced halide migration in APTMS-passivated samples, likely due to reduced halide vacancy densities, opening avenues to more efficient and stable devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Desorption of Benzene, 1,3,5-Trifluorobenzene, and Hexafluorobenzene from a Graphene Surface: The Effect of Lateral Interactions on the Desorption Kinetics

The desorption of benzene, 1,3,5-trifluorobenzene (TFB), and hexafluorobenzene (HFB) from a graphene covered Pt(111) substrate was investigated using temperature programmed desorption (TPD). All three species have well-resolved monolayer and second layer desorption peaks. The desorption spectra for submonolayer coverages of benzene and hexafluorobenzene are consistent with first-order desorption kinetics. In contrast, the submonolayer TPD spectra for 1,3,5- trifluorobenzene align on a common leading-edge which is indicative of zero-order desorption kinetics. The desorption behavior of the three molecules can be correlated with the strength of the quadrupole moments. Calculations (second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation and density functional theory) show that the potential minimum for coplanar TFB dimers is more than a factor of two greater than that for either benzene or HFB dimers. The calculations support the interpretation that benzene and HFB are less likely to form the two-dimensional islands that are needed for submonolayer zero-order desorption kinetics.

Smith, Ronald S.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Engineering Assembly Kinetics and Line Roughness in Solvent Vapor-Annealed Block Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends

Block copolymer (BCP) directed self-assembly (DSA) is a promising route to enhance lithography resolution by multiplying nanopattern density and reducing feature roughness. Eliminating kinetically trapped self-assembly defects requires fast self-assembly. However, acceleration strategies like solvent vapor annealing or homopolymer blending broaden domain interfaces, implying a trade-off in increased feature roughness. In this work, we experimentally investigate this apparent dilemma between self-assembly kinetics and line roughness for solvent vapor-annealed thin films of a lamellar poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) BCP blended with PS and P2VP homopolymers. Binary blends with PS or P2VP homopolymers and ternary blends incorporating both in equal weight fractions were solvent vapor annealed using acetone, a near-neutral solvent for PS and P2VP, followed by P2VP-selective vapor-phase infiltration with alumina (AlOx) and polymer etching. Binary blends with P2VP exhibit a modest kinetic enhancement but also higher line-edge and -width roughness due to the increased frequency of P2VP protrusions and bridge defects in the alumina line patterns. In contrast, binary blends with PS self-assemble noticeably faster, while domain asymmetry from the added PS homopolymer reduces roughness by curbing the number of alumina protrusions and bridge defects. Ternary blends maintain DSA line patterns across a wider composition window and, at higher homopolymer loadings, reduce roughness at length scales near the lamellar period, consistent with a reduced impact of intradomain compositional fluctuations. These findings provide important insights for codesigning blend compositions and process flows to achieve high-resolution, defect free patterns with minimal roughness through BCP DSA.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Crystallization Mechanisms of Poly(vinylidene Fluoride- co -chlorotrifluoroethylene): Nucleation Transitions, Growth Kinetics, and Microstructure Evolution

The crystallization kinetics of FK-800, a commercial semicrystalline copolymer of chlorotrifluoroethylene and vinylidene fluoride (poly(CTFE-co-VDF)), dictate its microstructure and functional performance. Crystallization occurs between the glass transition (T g ≈ 31 °C) and melting point (T m ≈ 110 °C), with grain boundaries playing a key role in applications such as memristors, where they regulate filament growth. This study integrates in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to characterize nucleation, growth, and morphology across the full crystallization window. Hot-stage AFM reveals a transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous nucleation near 45 °C and a shift from reaction-limited to diffusion-limited growth above 60 °C. Kinetics are analyzed using Lauritzen–Hoffman, Turnbull–Fisher, and Avrami models to extract surface free energies and activation barriers. A multiscale modeling framework is developed in which nucleation densities and growth rates measured by AFM are used to reconstruct Avrami kinetics, which are then validated against coverage data, and extrapolated to predict bulk crystallization behavior observed by DSC. GIWAXS confirms a primarily flat-on chain orientation at all temperatures, linking orientation to domain morphology. This integrative approach quantitatively connects nanoscale crystallization dynamics with macroscopic phase evolution, establishing a quantitative framework for modeling crystallization across time, temperature, and length scales.

Crystallization↗
DOE OSTI2018

Thickness-Dependent Ordering Kinetics in Cylindrical Block Copolymer/Homopolymer Ternary Blends

The slow kinetics of block copolymer self-assembly may hinder, or even prevent, the realization of expected equilibrium ordered morphologies. Here in this paper we investigate the self-assembly kinetics of cylinder-forming polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) and its corresponding ternary blends with low molecular weight PS and PMMA in thin films ranging from <1 to several cylinder layers in thickness. In situ grazing-incidence X-ray scattering coupled with ex situ electron microscopy reveals pathway-dependent ordering substantially altered by homopolymer blending. In particular, the neat (unblended) block copolymer (BCP) is kinetically frustrated in films more than ~1 cylinder layer thick and is unable to reach a state of ordered hexagonally packed cylinders during the annealing interval. On the other hand, while blends exhibit similar pattern coarsening behavior to neat BCPs for hexagonally ordered cylinders, reorientation transitions between vertical or horizontal cylinders are dramatically accelerated in blend thin films. We infer that more rapid early stage ordering observed in blends can be attributed in part to faster reorientation transitions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tortuosity Engineering for Improved Charge Storage Kinetics in High-Areal-Capacity Battery Electrodes

The increasing demands of electronic devices and electric transportation necessitate lithium-ion batteries with simultaneous high energy and power capabilities. However, rate capabilities are often limited in high-loading electrodes due to the lengthy and tortuous ion transport paths with their electrochemical behaviors governed by complicated electrode architectures still elusive. Here, we report the electrode-level tortuosity engineering design enabling improved charge storage kinetics in high-energy electrodes. Both high areal capacity and high-rate capability can be achieved beyond the practical level of mass loadings in electrodes with vertically oriented architectures. The electrochemical properties in electrodes with various architectures were quantitatively investigated through correlating the characteristic time with tortuosity. The lithium-ion transport kinetics regulated by electrode architectures was further studied via combining the three-dimensional electrode architecture visualization and simulation. Finally, the tortuosity-controlled charge storage kinetics revealed in this study can be extended to general electrode systems and provide useful design consideration for next-generation high-energy/power batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Kinetics Tuning the Electrochemistry of Lithium Dendrites Formation in Lithium Batteries through Electrolytes

Lithium batteries are one of the most advance energy storage devices in the world and have attracted extensive research interests. However, lithium dendrite growth was a safety issue which handicapped the application of pure lithium metal in the negative electrode. In this paper, two solvents, propylene carbonate (PC) and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (2MeTHF), and four Li + salts, LiPF 6 , LiAsF 6 , LiBF 4 and LiClO 4 were investigated in terms of their effects on the kinetics of lithium dendrite formation in eight electrolyte solutions. The kinetic parameters of charge transfer step (exchange current density, j 0 , transfer coefficient, α) of Li + /Li redox system, the mass transfer parameters of Li + (transfer number of Li + , t Li+ , diffusion coefficient of Li + , D Li+ ), and the conductivity (κ) of each electrolyte were studied separately. The results demonstrate that the solvents play a critical role in the measured j 0 , t Li+ , D Li+ , and κ of the electrolyte, while the choice of Li + salts only slightly affect the measured parameters. Finally, the understanding of the kinetics will gain insight into the mechanism of lithium dendrite formation and provide guidelines to the future application of lithium metal.

2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran↗
DOE OSTI2019

Low-Frequency Carrier Kinetics in Perovskite Solar Cells

Hybrid organic–inorganic halide perovskite solar cells have emerged as leading candidates for third-generation photovoltaic technology. Despite the rapid improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) for perovskite solar cells in recent years, the low-frequency carrier kinetics that underlie practical roadblocks such as hysteresis and degradation remain relatively poorly understood. In an effort to bridge this knowledge gap, we perform here correlated low-frequency noise (LFN) and impedance spectroscopy (IS) characterization that elucidates carrier kinetics in operating perovskite solar cells. Specifically, we focus on planar cell geometries with a SnO2 electron transport layer and two different hole transport layers—namely, poly(triarylamine) (PTAA) and spiro-OMeTAD. PTAA and spiro-OMeTAD cells with moderate PCEs of 5–12% possess a Lorentzian feature at ~200 Hz in LFN measurements that corresponds to a crossover from electrode to dielectric polarization. In comparison, spiro-OMeTAD cells with high PCEs (>15%) show 4 orders of magnitude lower LFN amplitude and are accompanied by a cyclostationary process. Through a systematic study of more than a dozen solar cells, we establish a correlation with noise amplitude, PCE, and fill factor. Overall, this work establishes correlated LFN and IS as an effective methodology for quantifying low-frequency carrier kinetics in perovskite solar cells, thereby providing new physical insights that can rationally guide ongoing efforts to improve device performance, reproducibility, and stability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Operando Surface-Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy Connects Interfacial Dynamics with Reaction Kinetics During Electrochemical CO 2 Reduction on Copper

The reaction microenvironment plays a key role in dictating the selectivity of electrochemical CO 2 reduction. However, understanding the chemical nature of this microenvironment under operating conditions remains a substantial challenge. For this study, we employed attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) in operando for simultaneous measurements of reaction kinetics and concentrations of reactants and intermediates at the reaction interface, all under controlled mass transport conditions. These operando measurements enable direct correlations between the reaction microenvironment, mass transport, and kinetics for a Cu electrocatalyst, such as higher local concentrations of CO 2 under faster mass transport corresponding to higher rates of CO 2 reduction. We observed that faster mass transport decreased the *CO coverage at less negative potentials (-0.6 V RHE ) and increased the *CO coverage at more negative potentials (-1.1 V RHE ). We developed a transport-coupled kinetic model that captures these spectroscopic observations and provides insight into the processes controlling interfacial concentrations of reactants and intermediates, aiding future efforts toward tailoring reaction microenvironments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Mechanism and Kinetics of Ethanol Coupling to Butanol over Hydroxyapatite

The mechanism and kinetics for ethanol coupling to n-butanol over hydroxyapatite (HAP) were investigated at 573-613 K. In situ titration experiments show that the active sites for acetaldehyde and butanol formation are different. In combination with FTIR studies, it was found that ethanol dehydrogenation is catalyzed by Ca-O sites, whereas condensation of acetaldehyde is catalyzed by CaO/PO 4 3- pairs. Measurements of the reaction kinetics at various ethanol (3.5-9.4 kPa) and acetaldehyde (0.055-0.12 kPa) partial pressures reveal that direct condensation involving two ethanol molecules does not play a significant role in butanol formation; instead, n-butanol is formed via a Guerbet pathway. At a constant acetaldehyde pressure, enolate formation is rate-limiting, and ethanol inhibits acetaldehyde condensation rates by competitive adsorption. A model of the reaction kinetics consistent with all experimental observations is developed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Surface Proton Hopping and Fast-Kinetics Pathway of Water Oxidation on Co 3 O 4 (001) Surface

A mechanism of water splitting on cobalt oxide surface is proposed, with atomistic thermodynamic and kinetic details. The density-functional theory studies suggest that the oxidation process could proceed with several nonelectrochemical (spontaneous) intermediate steps, following the initial electrochemical hydroxyl-to-oxo conversion. More specifically, the single oxo sites Co IV =O can hop (via surface proton/electron hopping) to form oxo pair Co IV (=O)-O-Co IV =O, which will undergo nucleophilic attack by a water molecule and form the hydroperoxide CoIII -OOH. Encounter with another oxo would generate a superoxo Co III -OO, followed by the O 2 release. Finally the addition and deprotonation of a fresh water molecule will restart the catalytic cycle by forming the hydroxyl Co III -OH at this active site. Our theoretical investigations indicate that all nonelectrochemical reactions are kinetically fast and thermodynamically downhill. This hypothesis is supported by recent in situ spectroscopic observations of surface superoxo that is stabilized by hydrogen bonding to adjacent hydroxyl group as an intermediate on fast-kinetics Co catalytic site.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗