Hydration processes of electrolyte anions and cations on pt(111), Ir(111), Ru(001) and Au(111) surfaces: coadsorption of water molecules with electrolyte ions

Water adsorption on Pt( 111) and Ru(001) treated with oxygen, hydrogen chloride and sodium atom at 20 K has been studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and surface X-ray diffraction. Water molecules chemisorb predominantly on the sites of the electronegative additives, forming hydrogen bonds. Three types of hydration water molecules coordinate to an adsorbed Na atom through an oxygen lone pair. In contrast, water molecules adsorb on electrode surfaces in a simple way in solution. In 1 mM CuSO4 + 0.5 M H2SO4 solution on an Au(111) electrode surface, water molecules coadsorb not only with sulfuric acid anions through hydrogen bonding but also with copper, over wide potential ranges. In the first stage of underpotential deposition (UPD), each anion is accommodated by six copper hexagon (honeycomb) atoms on which water molecules dominate. At any UPD stage water molecules interact with both the copper atom and sulfuric acid anions on the Au(111) surface. Water molecules also coadsorb with CO molecules on the surface of 2 x 2-2CO-Ru(001). All of the hydration water molecules chemisorb weakly on the surfaces. There appears to be a correlation between the orientation of hydrogen bonding water molecules and the electrode potential.     

Investigation of oxygen reduction reaction kinetics at (111)-(100) nanofaceted platinum surfaces in acidic media

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was studied on CO-treated and untreated (111)-(100) nanofaceted platinum surfaces [Komanicky et al. J. Phys. Chem. 2005, 109, 23543] in sulfuric and perchloric acids using the rotating disk electrode technique. Activities of nanofaceted surfaces are found to be considerably higher than a simple average of the activities of (111) and (100) surfaces. We find that the high activity in sulfuric acid is consistent with the higher activity of (111) facets. It is due the weaker sulfate adsorption on finite-size (111) surfaces than on (111) single crystal surfaces where the ORR activity is suppressed by strong sulfate adsorption. However, the high activity found in the weakly absorbing perchloric acid cannot be explained by the finite-size effect, since the activities are reportedly insensitive to terrace sizes [Macia, M. D.; et al. J.Electroanal. Chem., 2004, 564, 141]. We propose a cooperative activity, unique to nanoscale objects, which results from oxy species crossing over between adjacent facets in nanometer proximities.     

In situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy of carbon monoxide adsorbed on Pt(S)-[n(100)x(110)] electrodes

Structural effects on the adsorption of CO have been studied using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) on Pt(S)-[n(100)x(110)] surfaces (n = 2, 5, 9) that have densely packed kink atoms in the step. Coverage and potential dependence of the IRAS spectra are scrutinized. On-top and bridge-bonded CO are found on all of the surfaces examined. CO is adsorbed on only kink at low coverage (thetaCO < or = 0.2). Adsorbed CO on kink gives an IR band at lower frequency than that on step. CO is adsorbed on both kink and terrace at 0.3 < or = thetaCO. Water is adsorbed on the terrace of Pt(510) n = 5 and Pt(910) n = 9 at low CO coverage, but water is not found on Pt(210) n = 2 of which the first layer is composed of only kink atoms. It is suggested that coadsorbed water on the terrace enhances the activity for the oxidation of adsorbed CO on the kink remarkably.     

Infrared spectroscopy of physisorbed and chemisorbed O2 on Pt(111)

The adsorption of O2 on the Pt(111) surface, with particular emphasis on the influence of substrate temperature, has been studied by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). In the temperature range 30-90 K the IRAS spectra reveal three different molecular adsorption states. A physisorbed state appears below 40 K while chemisorbed peroxo- and superoxo-like states are observed in the whole temperature range, the characteristic vibrational frequencies are at full coverages of 16O2, 1543 cm(-1) and around 700 cm(-1) and 870 cm(-1), respectively. Flash heating from 30 K to 45 K reveal that the physisorbed state acts as a precursor to the superoxo chemisorption. Theoretical calculations suggest that peroxo molecules may occupy both fcc and hcp threefold sites on the Pt(111) surface. However, within the high resolution of the IRAS measurements we only observe one peroxo state in the temperature range 45-90 K, assigned to occupy the fcc site. The peroxo adsorption probability is significantly lower at 45 K than at 90 K, presumably due to reduced thermal activation from the physisorbed precursor state. A longer lifetime in this precursor state at the low temperature results in formation of larger superoxo islands already at low oxygen coverage.     

Selective electrocatalysis of acetaldehyde oxime reduction on (111) sites of platinum single crystal electrodes and nanoparticles surfaces

The reduction of acetaldehyde oxime (AO) in acid medium on platinum surfaces is a structure sensitive reaction that takes place almost exclusively on (111) sites of Pt electrodes, and it is strongly inhibited on Pt(100) and Pt(110) surfaces. A study using stepped electrodes with (111) terraces and monoatomic steps either with (100) and (110) orientation shows that the activity of the electrode is also dependent on the terrace width, i.e., the wider the terrace is, the higher current density is recorded and the more positive the peak potential for AO reduction appears. Moreover, in the electrodes with (100) step sites, the reduction process appears at more negative potential than the electrodes with (111) step sites. Nanoparticles with some preferential orientations were also tested for the AO reduction reaction to check the presence of (111) ordered domains on the nanoparticles surface. Dedicated to Teresa Iwasita on the occasion of her retirement and for her contributions to Electrochemistry.     

Tellurium adatoms as an in-situ surface probe of (111) two-dimensional domains at platinum surfaces

Irreversibly adsorbed tellurium has been studied as a probe to quantify ordered domains in platinum electrodes. The surface redox process of adsorbed tellurium on the Pt(111) electrode and Pt(111) stepped surfaces takes place around 0.85 V in a well-defined peak. The behavior of this redox process on the Pt(111) vicinal surfaces indicates that the tellurium atoms involved in the redox process are only those deposited on the (111) terrace sites. Moreover, the corresponding charge density is proportional to the number of sites on (111) ordered domains (terraces) that are, at least, three atoms wide. Hence, this charge density can be used to measure the number of (111) terrace sites on any given platinum sample. Structural information about tellurium adsorption is obtained from atomic-resolution STM images for the Pt(111) and Pt(10, 10, 9) electrodes. A rectangular structure (2 x radical 3) and a compact hexagonal structure (11 x 8) were identified. However, the redox peak for adsorbed tellurium on (100) domains at 1.03 V overlaps with peaks arising from steps and (110) sites. Therefore, it cannot be used without problems for the determination of (100) sites on a platinum sample. On the (100) terraces, the surface structure of the adsorbed tellurium is c(2 x 2), as revealed by STM. Finally, tellurium irreversible adsorption has been used to estimate the number of (111) ordered domains terrace sites on different polycrystalline platinum samples, and the results are compared to those obtained with bismuth irreversible adsorption.     

CO adsorption and reaction on clean and oxygen-covered Au(211) surfaces

We have used primarily temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) to investigate CO adsorption on a Au(211) stepped single-crystal surface. The Au(211) surface can be described as a step-terrace structure consisting of three-atom-wide terraces of (111) orientation and a monatomic step with a (100) orientation, or 3(111) x (100) in microfacet notation. CO was only weakly adsorbed but was more strongly bound at step sites (12 kcal mol(-1)) than at terrace sites (6.5-9 kcal mol(-1)). The sticking coefficient of CO on the Au(211) surface was also higher ( approximately 5x) during occupation of step sites compared to populating terrace sites at higher coverages. The nu(CO) stretching band energy in IRAS spectra indicated that CO was adsorbed at atop sites at all coverages and conditions. A small red shift of nu(CO) from 2126 to 2112 cm(-1) occurred with increasing CO coverage on the surface. We conclude that the presence of these particular step sites at the Au(211) surface imparts stronger CO bonding and a higher reactivity than on the flat Au(111) surface, but these changes are not remarkable compared to chemistry on other more reactive crystal planes or other stepped Au surfaces. Thus, it is unlikely that the presence or absence of this particular crystal plane alone at the surface of supported Au nanoparticles has much to do with the remarkable properties of highly active Au catalysts.     

First principles study of sulfuric acid anion adsorption on a Pt(111) electrode

A first principles theory combined with a continuum electrolyte theory is applied to adsorption of sulfuric acid anions on Pt(111) in 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) solution. The theoretical free energy diagram indicates that sulfuric acid anions adsorb as bisulfate in the potential range of 0.41 < U ≤ 0.48 V (RHE) and as sulfate in 0.48 V (RHE) < U. This diagram also indicates that sulfate inhibits formations of surface oxide and hydroxide. Charge analysis shows that the total charge transferred for the formation of the full coverage sulfate adlayer is 90 μC cm(-2), and that the electrosorption valency value is -0.45 to -0.95 in 0.41 < U ≤ 0.48 V (RHE) and -1.75 to -1.85 in U > 0.48 V (RHE) in good agreement with experiments reported in the literature. Vibration analysis indicates that the vibration frequencies observed experimentally at 1250 and 950 cm(-1) can be assigned, respectively, to the S-O (uncoordinated) and symmetric S-O stretching modes for sulfate, and that the higher frequency mode has a larger potential-dependence (58 cm(-1) V(-1)) than the lower one.     

CO oxidation on Pt-modified Rh(111) electrodes.

The CO electro-oxidation reaction was studied on platinum-modified Rh(111) electrodes in 0.5 M H2SO4 using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The Pt-Rh(111) electrodes were generated during voltammetric cycles at 50 mV s(-1) in a 30 microM H2PtCl6 and 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. Surfaces generated by n deposition cycles were investigated (Ptn-Rh(111) with n=2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 16). The blank cyclic voltammograms of these surfaces are characterized by a pronounced sharpening of the hydrogen/(bi)sulfate adsorption/desorption peaks, typical for Rh(111), and the appearance of contributions between 0.1 and 0.4 V, which were ascribed to hydrogen/(bi)sulfate adsorption/desorption on the deposited platinum. At higher potentials, the surface oxidation of Rh(111) is enhanced by the presence of platinum. The structure of the Pt-modified electrodes was investigated by STM imaging. At low Pt coverages (Pt2-Rh(111)), monoatomically high islands are formed, which grow three dimensionally as the number of deposition cycles increases. After eight cycles, the monolayer islands have grown in diameter and range from mono- to multiatomic height. At even higher Pt coverage (Pt16-Rh(111)), the islands grow to particles of approx. 10 nm in diameter, which are 5-6 atoms high. The CO stripping voltammetry on these surfaces is characterized by two peaks: A low-potential, structure-insensitive peak, ascribed to CO reacting at the platinum monolayer islands, whose onset is shifted 150, 250, and 100 mV negatively with respect to pure Rh(111), Pt(111), and polycrystalline Pt, respectively, indicating the enhanced CO electro-oxidation properties of the Pt overlayer system. A peak at higher potentials displays strong structure sensitivity (particle-size effect) and was ascribed to CO reacting on the islands of multiatomic height. Current-time transients recorded on the surface with the highest amount of monolayer islands (Pt4-Rh(111)) also indicate enhanced CO-oxidation kinetics. Comparison of the Pt4-Rh(111) current-time transients recorded at 0.635, 0.675, and 0.750 V versus RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode) with those of pure Rh(111) and Pt(111) shows greatly reduced reaction times. A Cottrellian decay at long times indicates surface-diffusion-limited CO oxidation on the bare Rh(111) surface, while the peak visible at short times is indicative of CO reacting at the monolayer platinum islands. The results presented here show that, as indicated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the CO-adlayer oxidation for this system is enhanced compared to both pure Rh and Pt.     

Surface electrochemistry of CO on reconstructed gold single crystal surfaces studied by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and rotating disk electrode

The electrooxidation of CO has been studied on reconstructed gold single-crystal surfaces by a combination of electrochemical (EC) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) measurements. Emphasis is placed on relating the vibrational properties of the CO adlayer to the voltammetric and other macroscopic electrochemical responses, including rotating disk electrode measurements of the catalytic activity. The IRAS data show that the C-O stretching frequencies are strongly dependent on the surface orientation and can be observed in the range 1940-1990 cm(-1) for the 3-fold bridging, 2005-2070 cm(-1) for the 2-fold bridging, and 2115-2140 for the terminal position. The most complex CO spectra are found for the Au(110)-(1 x 2) surface, i.e., a band near 1965 cm(-1), with the second, weaker band shifted positively by about 45 cm(-1) and, finally, a weak band near 2115 cm(-1). While the C-O stretching frequencies for a CO adlayer adsorbed on Au(111)-(1 x 23) show nu(CO) bands at 2029-2069 cm(-1) and at 1944-1986 cm(-1), on the Au(100)-"hex" surface a single CO band is observed at 2004-2029 cm(-1). In the "argon-purged" solution, the terminal nu(CO) band on Au(110)-(1 x 2) and the 3-fold bridging band on the Au(111)-(1 x 23) disappear entirely. The IRAS/EC data show that the kinetics of CO oxidation are structure sensitive; i.e., the onset of CO oxidation increases in the order Au(110)-(1 x 2) > or = Au(100)-"hex" > Au(111)-(1 x 23). Possible explanations for the structure sensitivity are discussed.     

TPD and FT-IRAS investigation of ethylene oxide (EtO) adsorption on a Au(211) stepped surface

Adsorption of ethylene oxide, CH(2)CH(2)O (EtO), on a Au(211) stepped surface was studied by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FT-IRAS). Ethylene oxide was completely reversibly adsorbed, and desorbed molecularly during TPD following adsorption on Au(211) at 85 K. EtO TPD peaks appeared at 115 K from the multilayer film and 140 and 170 K from the monolayer. Desorption at 140 K was attributed to EtO desorption from terrace sites, and that at 170 K to EtO desorption from step sites. Desorption activation energies and corresponding adsorption energies were estimated to be 8.4 and 10.3 kcal mol(-1), respectively. The EtO ring (C(2)O) deformation band appeared in IRAS at 865 cm(-1) for EtO in multilayer films and when adsorbed in the monolayer at terrace sites. The stronger chemisorption bonding of EtO at Au step sites slightly weakens the bonding within the molecule and causes a small red-shift of this band to 850 cm(-1) for adsorption at step sites. EtO presumably binds via the oxygen atom to the surface, and observation of the EtO-ring absorption band in IRAS establishes that the molecular ring plane of EtO adsorbed at step and terrace sites is nearly upright with respect to the crystal surface plane.     

Sb在Cu单晶电极上欠电位沉积的电化学和现场STM研究

应用循环伏安法和现场扫描隧道显微镜研究了在HClO4和H2SO4两种溶液中Sb于Cu(111)和Cu(100)电极上的欠电位沉积.结果表明,不同的表面原子排列和强吸附阴离子的存在将明显影响Sb的欠电位沉积行为.在结构较为开放的Cu(100)表面,Sb形成的欠电位沉积层结构也较为开放,并且伴随着表面合金的形成;而在密堆积的Cu(111)表面上,Sb形成了致密的单层结构.又当Cu(111)表面存在强吸附的SO42-时,Sb原子首先在SO42-吸附层与Cu表面交接的新台阶处成核,随后通过取代SO42-向上一层晶面发展,表现出独特的成核—生长行为;而在弱吸附的HClO4溶液中,Sb的欠电位沉积系以在晶面上随机形成一些单原子层高度的Sb岛为特征.在Cu(100)表面,通过SO42-的诱导共吸附,欠电位沉积的Sb原子形成了开放性更大的(4×4)结构,不同于在HClO4溶液中所形成的(22×22)R45°结构.     

氧原子在Pt(s)-[n(111)×(100)]型台阶面上的吸附和振动

应用原子和表面簇合物相互作用的5-参数Morse势(简称5-MP)方法系统地研究了氧-铂台阶面体系.理论结果表明:在Pt(s)-[n(111)×(100)]型台阶面上，氧原子吸附在台阶下的四重位，对应稳定吸附态β2；平台上靠近四重位的三重吸附态被湮灭，其它三重位对应吸附态β1；而且平台的长度对四重吸附态有影响.     

Interaction of SO3 with c-ZrO2(111) films on Pt(111)

Single-crystalline sulfated c-ZrO2(111) films of the cubic (c) type have been prepared by reactive deposition of Zr onto Pt(111) in an O2 atmosphere and subsequent exposition to a SO3 atmosphere. The morphology, atomic structure, and composition have been examined by scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The clean c-ZrO2(111) films display a (2x2) surface structure. During SO3 exposure at room temperature, a clear (radical3xradical3)R30 degrees structure develops. At about 700 K, the SO3-induced (radical3xradical3)R30 degrees structure disappears and the bright (2x2) LEED pattern of the clean ZrO2 films reappears. The energies of plausible c-ZrO2(111)/SO3 structures have been examined by DFT. The (radical3xradical3)R30 degrees structure found in the experiments turned out to be the most stable one for temperatures below 700 K. At temperatures around 700 K, a disordered low coverage structure may exist, which can not be observed by conventional LEED. A comparison of cubic zirconia surfaces with the alternative tetragonal system yields similar results for the SO3 adsorption in the DFT calculations and shows that c-ZrO2 surfaces are good models for the industrial used tetragonal ZrO2 supports.     

Chiral recognition of PVBA on Pd(111) and Ag(111) surfaces

An asymmetric planar molecule, 4-trans-2-(pyrid-4-yl-vinyl) benzoic acid (PVBA), has been used to establish the organic chiral recognition on fcc(111) metal surfaces. The strong correlation between the orientation and chiral recognition of PVBA on both Ag(111) and Pd(111) guides the choice of a model potential, which determines the relative binding energy of PVBA on fcc(111). An angle-dependent calculation of relative binding energy reproduces the experimental observation of the chiral recognition of PVBA on Ag(111) but not on Pd(111).     

Role of the anion in the underpotential deposition of cadmium on a Rh(111) electrode: probed by voltammetry and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed to examine the underpotential deposition (UPD) of cadmium on a rhodium(111) electrode in sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. The (bi)sulfate and chloride anions in the electrolytes played a main role in controlling the number and arrangement of Cd adatoms. Deposition of Cd along with hydrogen adsorption occurred near 0.1 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode) in either 0.05 M H2SO4 or 0.1 M HCl containing 1 mM Cd(ClO4)2. These coupled processes resulted in an erroneous coverage of Cd adatoms. The process of Cd deposition shifted positively to 0.3 V and thus separated from that of hydrogen in 0.05 M H2SO4 containing 0.5 M Cd2+. The amount of charge (80 microC/cm2) for Cd deposition in 0.5 M Cd2+ implied a coverage of 0.17 for the Cd adatoms, which agreed with in situ STM results. Regardless of [Cd2+], in situ STM imaging revealed a highly ordered Rh(111)-(6 x 6)-6Cd + HSO4- or SO42- structure in sulfuric acid,. In hydrochloric acid, in situ STM discerned a (2 x 2)-Cd + Cl structure at potentials where Cd deposition commenced. STM atomic resolution showed roughly one-quarter of a monolayer of Cd adatoms were deposited, ca. 50% more than in sulfuric acid. Dynamic in situ STM imaging showed potential dependent, reversible transformations between the (6 x 6) Cd adlattices and (square root 3 x square root 7)-(bi)sulfate structure, and between (2 x 2) and (square root 7 x square root 7)R19.1 degrees -Cl structures. The fact that different Cd structures observed in H2SO4 and HCl entailed the involvement of anions in Cd deposition, i.e. (bi)sulfate and chloride anions were codeposited with Cd adatoms on Rh(111).     

Reaction of SO2 with AuCeO2(111): importance of O vacancies in the activation of gold

Synchrotron-based high-resolution photoemission was used to study the adsorption and chemistry of SO(2) on AuCeO(2)(111) and AuO(x)CeO(2) surfaces. The heat of adsorption of the molecule on Au nanoparticles supported on stoichiometric CeO(2)(111) was 4-7 kcalmol larger than on Au(111). However, there was negligible dissociation of SO(2) on the AuCeO(2)(111) surfaces. The full decomposition of SO(2) was observed only after introducing O vacancies in the ceria support. AuO(x)CeO(2) surfaces were found to be much less chemically active than AuCeO(2)(111) or AuCeO(2-x)(111) surfaces. The active sites in {Au + AuO(x)}ceria catalysts should involve pure gold nanoparticles in contact with O vacancies.     

Water adsorption, desorption, and clustering on FeO(111)

The adsorption of water on FeO(111) is investigated using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). Well-ordered 2 ML thick FeO(111) films are grown epitaxially on a Pt(111) substrate. Water adsorbs molecularly on FeO(111) and desorbs with a well resolved monolayer peak. IRAS measurements as a function of coverage are performed for water deposited at 30 and 135 K. For all coverages (0.2 ML and greater), the adsorbed water exhibits significant hydrogen bonding. Differences in IRAS spectra for water adsorbed at 30 and 135 K are subtle but suggest that water adsorbed at 135 K is well ordered. Monolayer nitrogen TPD spectra from water covered FeO(111) surfaces are used to investigate the clustering of the water as a function of deposition or annealing temperature. Temperature dependent water overlayer structures result from differences in water diffusion rates on bare FeO(111) and on water adsorbed on FeO(111). Features in the nitrogen TPD spectra allow the monolayer wetting and 2-dimensional (2D) ordering of water on FeO(111) to be followed. Voids in a partially disordered first water layer exist for water deposited below 120 K and ordered 2D islands are found when depositing water above 120 K.     

In situ FTIR spectroscopic study of ethanol oxidation on Pt(111)/Rh/Sn surface. The anion effect

In situ Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to study the anion effect in ethanol oxidation on Pt (111) surface modified by rhodium and tin, Pt(111)/Rh/Sn. The in situ FTIR spectra showed that ethanol oxidation reaction pathway is strongly influenced by the nature of the electrolyte anion. In perchloric and sulfuric acid electrolytes were observed the formation of acetaldehyde, acetic acid and CO₂; however in phosphoric acid the acetic acid is not observed. The sulfuric acid is the most favorable electrolyte for acetaldehyde and CO₂ formation.     

Estimation of Surface Structure and Carbon Monoxide Oxidation Site of Shape‐Controlled Pt Nanoparticles

Surface structures of shape‐controlled Pt nanoparticles have been estimated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). Cubic and cuboctahedral Pt nanoparticles are prepared using a capping polymer. These nanoparticles give CVs similar to those of single crystal electrodes of Pt in sulfuric acid solution. The CV of cubic nanoparticles is similar to that of the Pt(510) [=5(100)–(110)] electrode, while the CV of cuboctahedral nanoparticles is reproduced well with the convolution of Pt(766) [=13(111)–(100)] and Pt(17 1 1) [=9(100)–(111)] electrodes. These results suggest that the planes of the cubic and cuboctahedral nanoparticles are composed of step‐terrace and atomically flat terraces, respectively. Adsorbed carbon monoxide (CO) on the shape‐controlled nanoparticles gives the IR bands that are assigned to on‐top and bridged CO. The band of on‐top CO is deconvoluted to two bands: the higher and the lower frequency bands are assigned to the CO on the plane and the edges of the nanoparticles, respectively. On‐top CO adsorbed on the edges is oxidized at more negative potential than that on the planes. Edge sites of the nanoparticles promote CO oxidation.