Exploring the Utility of Synchrotron X-rays for Enhancing our Understanding of Catalytic Processes

Yan-Gu Lin^1*

¹Scientific Research Division, National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan

* Presenter:Yan-Gu Lin, email:lin.yg@nsrrc.org.tw

The rapid decarbonization of the industrial sector heavily relies on hydrogen production through renewable-powered, low-temperature water electrolysis, with a particular focus on proton-exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). PEMWE offers notable advantages such as high current density, exceptional gas purity, and efficient voltage performance. However, the overall efficiency of hydrogen production via water electrolysis is hampered primarily by the sluggish anode reaction, namely the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The quest for highly active, durable, and cost-effective OER catalysts remains a formidable challenge. Synchrotron X-ray technology, a powerful characterization method, plays a significant role in scrutinizing key aspects of catalysts, including the metal oxidation state, metal-oxygen bond length, metal-metal distances, and the degree of structural disorder. In particular, time-resolved in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy offers valuable insights into catalyst behavior under realistic operando conditions, providing crucial information about the genuine active sites in OER catalysts. This talk showcases several recent examples from our team, illustrating how we can effectively manipulate the electronic and geometric properties of catalysts to enhance their performance in either the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
References
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[3] Li, Y.; Peng, C.K.; Hu, H.; Chen, S.Y.; Choi, J.; Lin, Y.G.; Lee, J.M.; Interstitial boron-triggered electron-deficient Os aerogels for enhanced pH-universal hydrogen evolution. Nature Communications, 2022, 13, 1143.
[4] Lin, Y.C.; Peng, C.K.; Lim, S.C.; Chen, C.L.; Nguyễn, T.N.; Wang, T.T.; Lin, M.C.; Hsu, Y.J.; Chen, S.Y.; Lin, Y.G.; Tailoring the Surface Oxygen Engineering of a Carbon-Quantum-Dot-Sensitized ZnO@H-ZnO1-x Multijunction toward Efficient Charge Dynamics and Photoactivity Enhancement. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2021, 285, 119846.

Keywords: X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Catalyst, Hydrogen Evolution Reaction, Oxygen Evolution Reaction, In situ