Imaging Catalytic Activation of CO2 on Cu2O (110): A First-Principles Study
Abstract
Balancing global energy needs against increasing greenhouse gas emissions requires new methods for efficient CO2 reduction. While photoreduction of CO2 is a viable approach for fuel generation, the rational design of photocatalysts hinges on precise characterization of the surface catalytic reactions. Cu2O is a promising next-generation photocatalyst, but the atomic-scale description of the interaction between CO2 and the Cu2O surface is largely unknown, and detailed experimental measurements are lacking. In this study, density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to identify the Cu2O (110) surface stoichiometry that favors CO2 reduction. To facilitate interpretation of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray absorption near-edge structures (XANES) measurements, which are useful for characterizing catalytic reactions, we present simulations based on DFT-derived surface morphologies with various adsorbate types. STM and XANES simulations were performed using the Tersoff Hamann approximation and Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) approach, respectively. The results provide guidance for observation of CO2 reduction reaction on, and rational surface engineering of, Cu2O (110). In conclusion, they also demonstrate the effectiveness of computational image and spectroscopy modeling as a predictive tool for surface catalysis characterization.
- Authors:
-
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
- Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1434330
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Chemistry of Materials
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 30; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 0897-4756
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Citation Formats
Li, Liang, Zhang, Rui, Vinson, John, Shirley, Eric L., Greeley, Jeffrey P., Guest, Jeffrey R., and Chan, Maria K. Y. Imaging Catalytic Activation of CO2 on Cu2O (110): A First-Principles Study. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.7b04803.
Li, Liang, Zhang, Rui, Vinson, John, Shirley, Eric L., Greeley, Jeffrey P., Guest, Jeffrey R., & Chan, Maria K. Y. Imaging Catalytic Activation of CO2 on Cu2O (110): A First-Principles Study. United States. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.7b04803.
Li, Liang, Zhang, Rui, Vinson, John, Shirley, Eric L., Greeley, Jeffrey P., Guest, Jeffrey R., and Chan, Maria K. Y. Mon .
"Imaging Catalytic Activation of CO2 on Cu2O (110): A First-Principles Study". United States. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.7b04803. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1434330.
@article{osti_1434330,
title = {Imaging Catalytic Activation of CO2 on Cu2O (110): A First-Principles Study},
author = {Li, Liang and Zhang, Rui and Vinson, John and Shirley, Eric L. and Greeley, Jeffrey P. and Guest, Jeffrey R. and Chan, Maria K. Y.},
abstractNote = {Balancing global energy needs against increasing greenhouse gas emissions requires new methods for efficient CO2 reduction. While photoreduction of CO2 is a viable approach for fuel generation, the rational design of photocatalysts hinges on precise characterization of the surface catalytic reactions. Cu2O is a promising next-generation photocatalyst, but the atomic-scale description of the interaction between CO2 and the Cu2O surface is largely unknown, and detailed experimental measurements are lacking. In this study, density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to identify the Cu2O (110) surface stoichiometry that favors CO2 reduction. To facilitate interpretation of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray absorption near-edge structures (XANES) measurements, which are useful for characterizing catalytic reactions, we present simulations based on DFT-derived surface morphologies with various adsorbate types. STM and XANES simulations were performed using the Tersoff Hamann approximation and Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) approach, respectively. The results provide guidance for observation of CO2 reduction reaction on, and rational surface engineering of, Cu2O (110). In conclusion, they also demonstrate the effectiveness of computational image and spectroscopy modeling as a predictive tool for surface catalysis characterization.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.chemmater.7b04803},
journal = {Chemistry of Materials},
number = 6,
volume = 30,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {3}
}
Web of Science
Figures / Tables:

Works referencing / citing this record:
Modulating Epitaxial Atomic Structure of Antimonene through Interface Design
journal, May 2019
- Niu, Tianchao; Zhou, Wenhan; Zhou, Dechun
- Advanced Materials, Vol. 31, Issue 29
CO 2 Reduction of Hybrid Cu 2 O–Cu/Gas Diffusion Layer Electrodes and their Integration in a Cu‐based Photoelectrocatalytic Cell
journal, August 2019
- Brito, Juliana Ferreira; Genovese, Chiara; Tavella, Francesco
- ChemSusChem, Vol. 12, Issue 18
Cu2O concave hexapod microcrystals: selective facet etching and highly improved photocatalytic performance
journal, October 2018
- Li, Pengwei; Liu, Lina; Qin, Dongjie
- Journal of Materials Science, Vol. 54, Issue 4
Theoretical prediction of LiScO 2 nanosheets as a cathode material for Li–O 2 batteries
journal, January 2018
- Liu, Zhixiao; Deng, Huiqiu; Zhang, Shiguo
- Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol. 20, Issue 34
Atomistic determination of the surface structure of Cu 2 O(111): experiment and theory
journal, January 2018
- Zhang, Rui; Li, Liang; Frazer, Laszlo
- Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Vol. 20, Issue 43
Visible light-driven enhanced CO 2 reduction by water over Cu modified S-doped g-C 3 N 4
journal, January 2019
- Ojha, Niwesh; Bajpai, Abhinav; Kumar, Sushant
- Catalysis Science & Technology, Vol. 9, Issue 17