Nanoscale architecture of ceria-based model catalysts: Pt-Co nanostructures on well-ordered CeO_(2)(111) thin films

We have prepared and characterized atomically well-defined model systems for ceria-supported Pt-Co core-shell catalysts. Pt@Co and Co@Pt core-shell nanostructures were grown on well-ordered CeO2(111) films on Cu(111) by physical vapour deposition of Pt and Co metals in ultrahigh vacuum and investigated by means of synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and resonant photoemission spectroscopy. The deposition of Co onto CeO2(111) yields CoCeO2(111) solid solution at low Co coverage(0.5 ML), followed by the growth of metallic Co nanoparticles at higher Co coverages. Both Pt@Co and Co@Pt model structures are stable against sintering in the temperature range between 300 and 500 K. After annealing at 500 K, the Pt@Co nanostructure contains nearly pure Co-shell while the Pt-shell in the Co@Pt is partially covered by metallic Co. Above 550 K, the re-ordering in the near surface regions yields a subsurface Pt-Co alloy and Pt-rich shells in both Pt@Co and Co@Pt nanostructures. In the case of Co@Pt nanoparticles, the chemical ordering in the near surface region depends on the initial thickness of the deposited Pt-shell. Annealing of the Co@Pt nanostructures in the presence of O2 triggers the decomposition of Pt-Co alloy along with the oxidation of Co, regardless of the thickness of the initial Pt-shell. Progressive oxidation of Co coupled with adsorbate-induced Co segregation leads to the formation of thick CoO layers on the surfaces of the supported Co@Pt nanostructures. This process is accompanied by the disintegration of the CeO2(111) film and encapsulation of oxidized Co@Pt nanostructures by CeO2 upon annealing in O2 above 550 K. Notably, during oxidation and reduction cycles with O2 and H2 at different temperatures, the changes in the structure and chemical composition of supported Co@Pt nanostructures were driven mainly by oxidation while reduction treatments had little effect regardless of the initial thickness of the Pt-shell.

Band alignment of Ga_2O_3/6H-SiC heterojunction

A high-quality Ga2O3 thin film is deposited on an SiC substrate to form a heterojunction structure. The band alignment of the Ga2O3/6H-SiC heterojunction is studied by using synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy, The energy band diagram of the Ga2O3/6H-SiC heterojunction is obtained by analysing the binding energies of Ga 3d and Si 2p at the surface and the interface of the heterojunction. The valence band offset is experimentally determined to be 2.8 eV and the conduction band offset is calculated to be 0.89 eV, which indicate a type-II band alignment. This provides useful guidance for the application of Ga2O3/6H-SiC electronic devices.

Anomalous self-optimization of sulfate ions for boosted oxygen evolution reaction

Broadly,the oxygen evolution reaction(OER)has been deeply understood as a significant part of energy conversion and storage.Nevertheless,the anions in the OER catalysts have been neglected for various reasons such as inactive sites,dissolution,and oxidation,amongst others.Herein,we applied a model catalyst s-Ni(OH)2 to track the anionic behavior in the catalyst during the electrochemical process to fill this gap.The advanced operando synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared(SR-FTIR)spectroscopy,synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy(SRPES)depth detection and differential X-ray absorption fine structure(D-XAFS)spectrum jointly point out that some oxidized sulfur species(SO_(4)^(2-))will selfoptimize new Ni–S bonds during OER process.Such amazing anionic self-optimization(ASO)behavior has never been observed in the OER process.Subsequently,the optimization-derived component shows a significantly improved electrocatalytic performance(activity,stability,etc.)compared to reference catalyst Ni(OH)_(2).Theoretical calculation further suggests that the ASO process indeed derives a thermodynamically stable structure of the OER catalyst,and then gives its superb catalytic performance by optimizing the thermodynamic and kinetic processes in the OER,respectively.This work demonstrates the vital role of anions in the electrochemical process,which will open up new perspectives for understanding OER and provide some new ideas in related fields(especially catalysis and chemistry).