In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEM
The structure of a nanocatalyst during electrocatalytic reactions often deviates from its pristine structure due to intrinsic properties, or physical and chemical adsorption at the catalytic surfaces. Taking Cu-based catalysts for CO2 electroreduction reactions (CO2RR) as an example, they often expe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Chemistry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1525245/full |
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| author | Jiawei Wan Jiawei Wan Qiubo Zhang Ershuai Liu Ershuai Liu Yi Chen Yi Chen Jiana Zheng Jiana Zheng Amy Ren Walter S. Drisdell Walter S. Drisdell Haimei Zheng Haimei Zheng |
| author_facet | Jiawei Wan Jiawei Wan Qiubo Zhang Ershuai Liu Ershuai Liu Yi Chen Yi Chen Jiana Zheng Jiana Zheng Amy Ren Walter S. Drisdell Walter S. Drisdell Haimei Zheng Haimei Zheng |
| author_sort | Jiawei Wan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The structure of a nanocatalyst during electrocatalytic reactions often deviates from its pristine structure due to intrinsic properties, or physical and chemical adsorption at the catalytic surfaces. Taking Cu-based catalysts for CO2 electroreduction reactions (CO2RR) as an example, they often experience segregation, leaching, and alloying during reactions. With the recent breakthrough development of high-resolution polymer electrochemical liquid cells, in-situ electrochemical liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (EC-TEM) alongside other advanced microscopy techniques, has become a powerful platform for revealing electrocatalysts restructuring at the atomic level. Considering the complex reactions involving electrified solid-liquid interfaces and catalyst structural evolution with intermediates, systematic studies with multimodal approaches are crucial. In this article, we demonstrate a research protocol for the study of electrocatalysts structural evolution during reactions using the in-situ EC-TEM platform. Using Cu and CuAg nanowire catalysts for CO2RR as model systems, we describe the experimental procedures and findings. We highlight the platform’s crucial role in elucidating atomic-scale pathways of nanocatalyst restructuring and identifying catalytic active sites, as well as avoiding potential artifacts to ensure unbiased conclusions. Using the multimodal characterization toolbox, we provide the opportunity to correlate the structure of a working catalyst with its performance. Finally, we discuss advancements as well as the remaining gap in elucidating the structural-performance relationship of working catalysts. We expect this article will assist in establishing guidelines for future investigations of complex electrochemical reactions, such as CO₂RR and other catalytic processes, using the in-situ EC-TEM platform. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-27650036af974789a883de8dc61cb76d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2646 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-27650036af974789a883de8dc61cb76d2025-01-30T06:23:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Chemistry2296-26462025-01-011310.3389/fchem.2025.15252451525245In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEMJiawei Wan0Jiawei Wan1Qiubo Zhang2Ershuai Liu3Ershuai Liu4Yi Chen5Yi Chen6Jiana Zheng7Jiana Zheng8Amy Ren9Walter S. Drisdell10Walter S. Drisdell11Haimei Zheng12Haimei Zheng13Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United StatesMaterials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesChemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesLiquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesMaterials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United StatesMaterials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United StatesMaterials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesChemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesLiquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesMaterials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United StatesDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United StatesThe structure of a nanocatalyst during electrocatalytic reactions often deviates from its pristine structure due to intrinsic properties, or physical and chemical adsorption at the catalytic surfaces. Taking Cu-based catalysts for CO2 electroreduction reactions (CO2RR) as an example, they often experience segregation, leaching, and alloying during reactions. With the recent breakthrough development of high-resolution polymer electrochemical liquid cells, in-situ electrochemical liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (EC-TEM) alongside other advanced microscopy techniques, has become a powerful platform for revealing electrocatalysts restructuring at the atomic level. Considering the complex reactions involving electrified solid-liquid interfaces and catalyst structural evolution with intermediates, systematic studies with multimodal approaches are crucial. In this article, we demonstrate a research protocol for the study of electrocatalysts structural evolution during reactions using the in-situ EC-TEM platform. Using Cu and CuAg nanowire catalysts for CO2RR as model systems, we describe the experimental procedures and findings. We highlight the platform’s crucial role in elucidating atomic-scale pathways of nanocatalyst restructuring and identifying catalytic active sites, as well as avoiding potential artifacts to ensure unbiased conclusions. Using the multimodal characterization toolbox, we provide the opportunity to correlate the structure of a working catalyst with its performance. Finally, we discuss advancements as well as the remaining gap in elucidating the structural-performance relationship of working catalysts. We expect this article will assist in establishing guidelines for future investigations of complex electrochemical reactions, such as CO₂RR and other catalytic processes, using the in-situ EC-TEM platform.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1525245/fullelectrochemical liquid cell TEMin-situoperandonanocatalystsCu-based catalystsCO2 electroreduction |
| spellingShingle | Jiawei Wan Jiawei Wan Qiubo Zhang Ershuai Liu Ershuai Liu Yi Chen Yi Chen Jiana Zheng Jiana Zheng Amy Ren Walter S. Drisdell Walter S. Drisdell Haimei Zheng Haimei Zheng In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEM Frontiers in Chemistry electrochemical liquid cell TEM in-situ operando nanocatalysts Cu-based catalysts CO2 electroreduction |
| title | In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEM |
| title_full | In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEM |
| title_fullStr | In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEM |
| title_full_unstemmed | In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEM |
| title_short | In-situ/operando study of Cu-based nanocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell TEM |
| title_sort | in situ operando study of cu based nanocatalysts for co2 electroreduction using electrochemical liquid cell tem |
| topic | electrochemical liquid cell TEM in-situ operando nanocatalysts Cu-based catalysts CO2 electroreduction |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1525245/full |
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