TY - JOUR A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Pfüger, Mika A1 - Velasco-Vélez, Juan-Jesús A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bernicke, Michael A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Krumrey, Michael A1 - Strasser, Peter A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph A1 - Hertwig, Andreas T1 - Assessing optical and electrical properties of highly active IrOx catalysts for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction via spectroscopic ellipsometry JF - ACS Catalysis N2 - Efficient water electrolysis requires highly active electrodes. The activity of corresponding catalytic coatings strongly depends on material properties such as film thickness, crystallinity, electrical conductivity, and chemical surface speciation. Measuring these properties with high accuracy in vacuum-free and nondestructive methods facilitates the elucidation of structure−activity relationships in realistic environments. Here, we report a novel approach to analyze the optical and electrical properties of highly active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts via spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Using a series of differently calcined, mesoporous, templated iridium oxide films as an example, we assess the film thickness, porosity, electrical resistivity, electron concentration, electron mobility, and interband and intraband transition energies by modeling of the optical spectra. Independently performed analyses using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ellipsometric porosimetry, X-ray reflectometry, and absorption spectroscopy indicate a high accuracy of the deduced material properties. A comparison of the derived analytical data from SE, resonant photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with activity measurements of the OER suggests that the intrinsic activity of iridium oxides scales with a shift of the Ir 5d t2g sub-level and an increase of p−d interband transition energies caused by a transition of μ1-OH to μ3-O species. KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry KW - Electrocatalysis KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Mesoporous iridium oxide films KW - Non-destructive ambient analysis KW - Intrinsic OER activity KW - Complementary methodology and metrology PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-516288 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c03800 SN - 2155-5435 VL - 10 IS - 23 SP - 14210 EP - 14223 PB - American Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-51628 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pu, Y. A1 - Lawrence, M. J. A1 - Celorrio, V. A1 - Wang, Q. A1 - Gu, M. A1 - Sun, Z. A1 - Agudo Jácome, Leonardo A1 - Russell, A. E. A1 - Huang, L. A1 - Rodriguez, P. T1 - Nickel confined in 2D earth-abundant oxide layers for highly efficient and durable oxygen evolution catalysts JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry A N2 - Low cost, high-efficiency catalysts towards water splitting are urgently required to fulfil the increasing demand for energy. In this work, low-loading (<20 wt%) Ni-confined in layered metal oxide anode catalysts (birnessite and lepidocrocite titanate) have been synthesized by facile ion exchange methodology and subjected to systematic electrochemical studies. It was found that Ni-intercalated on K-rich birnessite (Ni-KMO) presents an onset overpotential (ηonset) as low as 100 mV and overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 (η10) of 206 mV in pH = 14 electrolyte. By combining electrochemical methods and X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies (XAS and XES), we demonstrate Ni sites are the active sites for OER catalysis and that the Mn3+ sites facilitate Ni intercalation during the ion-exchange process, but display no observable contribution towards OER activity. The effect of the pH and the nature of the supporting electrolyte on the electrochemical performance was also evaluated. KW - Confined catalyst KW - Low-loading KW - Layered manganese oxide KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-515027 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TA04031B SN - 2050-7496 SN - 2050-7488 VL - 8 IS - 26 SP - 13340 EP - 13350 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - London AN - OPUS4-51502 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Pflüger, Mika A1 - Velasco Vélez, Juan Jesús A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bernicke, Michael A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Krumrey, Michael A1 - Strasser, Peter A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph A1 - Hertwig, Andreas T1 - Operando electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometry: Material properties of highly active mesoporous IrO IrOxfilms revealed under realistic OER conditions N2 - In the face of rising energy demand and the impending climate change the development of a sustainable, fossil-free fuel and chemical production is of global importance. One possible goal is the development of electrochemical conversion processes using catalysts. Porous materials play an important role in such energy applications. The activity and stability of each catalyst is highly dependent on the properties of the coating, i.e., phase composition, crystallinity, accessible surface area, and many other factors. The key to the development of improved catalysts is a better understanding of the relations between their performance, stability and physico-chemical properties. However, the complex morphology of such catalysts constitutes a challenge even for modern analytical techniques. Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a versatile method for studying material properties by using appropriate models (e.g., film thickness, optical and electronic properties). Ellipsometric models need to be validated in order to produce accurate results. In a first step, the model for the ellipsometric fit studies of a calcination series of mesoporous iridium oxide films (300 – 600 °C) was investigated and validated with respect to their material properties.[4] The information on electronic structure of the catalysts shows a direct correlation with electrochemical activities. The development of an environmental electrochemical cell offers the possibility of investigations under operando conditions. Thus, changes in optical and electronic properties can be induced and monitored during the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. T2 - 9th International Conference on Spectroscopic Ellipsometry CY - Beijing, China DA - 22.05.2022 KW - Mesoporous iridium oxide films KW - Non-destructive operando analysis KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-54915 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Pflüger, Mika A1 - Velasco-Vélez, Juan-Jesús A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bernicke, Michael A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Krumrey, Michael A1 - Strasser, Peter A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph T1 - Operando electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometry: Material properties of highly active mesoporous IrO IrOxfilms revealed under realistic OER conditions N2 - Rising energy demand and the impending climate change require the development of a sustainable, fossil-free fuel and chemical production on a global scale. Hydrogen production via water electrolysis will be a fundamental cornerstone in this endeavor. The activity and stability of respective electrode coatings strongly depends on the coating's properties, i.e. phase composition, crystallinity, electrical conductivity, accessible surface, wettability and many other factors. The key to the development of improved catalysts is a better understanding of the relations between their performance, stability and physicochemical properties. However, those relations can be complex, and are strongly influenced also by the reaction environment. Hence, operando analysis of the catalyst material during catalysis at realistic potentials and current densities is highly desirable. Yet, many analytical techniques cannot be applied in liquid environments at realistic potentials and current densities. We propose environmental ellipsometric analysis in a dedicated electrochemical flow cell as a new method to evaluate gas evolution reactions operando under realistic working conditions. Figure 1 illustrates schematically the developed technique. Key factors to success are highly active model-type catalysts with template-controlled porosity, a suitable sample environment, a deep understanding of the spectroscopic method and respective model development, as well as concise cross validation with numerous other analytical techniques. The method was developed and validated by analyzing a calcination series (300 - 600°C) of mesoporous templated IrOx films ex-situ and operando under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions. The employed environmental electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometric analysis (ECSE) revealed during OER the change of optical and electronic properties, i.e. the dielectric functions (real ε1 and imaginary part ε2), electrical and electronic properties such as resistivity (ρ) and band-to-band transitions (p-d band transitions). Film thickness and porosity were validated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray reflectometry (XRR) or ellipsometric porosimetry (EP), electrical and electronic properties by means of conductivity measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. The electronic structures of the catalysts from valence electron energy loss spectra (VEELS) derived from the real (ε1) and imaginary part (ε2) of the dielectric function from SE measurements reveal a direct correlation with electrochemical activities in OER. In the presentation reversible and irreversible potential-dependent changes of the catalyst properties during operation will be discussed along with the dynamics of gas formation, transport and dissolution at different potentials. T2 - 54. Jahrestreffen deutscher Katalytiker CY - Online meeting DA - 16.03.2021 KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry KW - Electrocatalysis KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Mesoporous iridium oxide films KW - Non-destructive operando analysis PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-52928 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Pflüger, Mika A1 - Velasco-Vélez, Juan-Jesús A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bernicke, Michael A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Krumrey, Michael A1 - Strasser, Peter A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph T1 - Operando electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometry: Material properties of highly active mesoporous IrO IrOxfilms revealed under realistic OER conditions N2 - Rising energy demand and the impending climate change require the development of a sustainable, fossil-free fuel and chemical production on a global scale. Hydrogen production via water electrolysis will be a fundamental cornerstone in this endeavor. The activity and stability of respective electrode coatings strongly depends on the coating's properties, i.e. phase composition, crystallinity, electrical conductivity, accessible surface, wettability and many other factors. The key to the development of improved catalysts is a better understanding of the relations between their performance, stability and physicochemical properties. However, those relations can be complex, and are strongly influenced also by the reaction environment. Hence, operando analysis of the catalyst material during catalysis at realistic potentials and current densities is highly desirable. Yet, many analytical techniques cannot be applied in liquid environments at realistic potentials and current densities. We propose environmental ellipsometric analysis in a dedicated electrochemical flow cell as a new method to evaluate gas evolution reactions operando under realistic working conditions. Figure 1 illustrates schematically the developed technique. Key factors to success are highly active model-type catalysts with template-controlled porosity, a suitable sample environment, a deep understanding of the spectroscopic method and respective model development, as well as concise cross validation with numerous other analytical techniques. The method was developed and validated by analyzing a calcination series (300 - 600°C) of mesoporous templated IrOx films ex-situ and operando under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions. The employed environmental electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometric analysis (ECSE) revealed during OER the change of optical and electronic properties, i.e. the dielectric functions (real ε1 and imaginary part ε2), electrical and electronic properties such as resistivity (ρ) and band-to-band transitions (p-d band transitions). Film thickness and porosity were validated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray reflectometry (XRR) or ellipsometric porosimetry (EP), electrical and electronic properties by means of conductivity measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. The electronic structures of the catalysts from valence electron energy loss spectra (VEELS) derived from the real (ε1) and imaginary part (ε2) of the dielectric function from SE measurements reveal a direct correlation with electrochemical activities in OER. In the presentation reversible and irreversible potential-dependent changes of the catalyst properties during operation will be discussed along with the dynamics of gas formation, transport and dissolution T2 - E MRS 2021 SPRING MEETING CY - Online meeting DA - 31.05.2021 KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry KW - Ectrocatalysis KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Mesoporous iridium oxide films KW - Non-destructive operando analysis PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-52929 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Pflüger, Mika A1 - Velasco-Vélez, Juan-Jesús A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bernicke, Michael A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Krumrey, Michael A1 - Strasser, Peter A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph A1 - Hertwig, Andreas T1 - Operando electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometry: Material properties of highly active mesoporous IrOx films revealed under realistic OER conditions N2 - Hydrogen production via water electrolysis will be an essential cornerstone in development of sustainable, fossil-free fuel and chemical production on a global scale. The activity and stability of each catalyst is highly dependent on the properties of the coating, i.e., phase composition, crystallinity, accessible surface area, and many other factors. The key to developing improved catalysts is a better understanding of the relationships between their performance, stability, and physicochemical properties. However, these relationships can be complex and are also strongly influenced by the reaction environment. Therefore, operando analysis of the catalyst material during catalysis at realistic potentials and current densities is highly desirable. However, many analytical techniques cannot be applied in liquid environments at realistic potentials and current densities. We propose environmental ellipsometric analysis in a dedicated electrochemical flow cell as a method to evaluate gas evolution reactions operando under realistic working conditions. Figure 1 illustrates schematically the developed technique. Key factors to success are highly active model-type catalysts, a suitable sample environment, and a deep understanding of the appropriate model development, as well as concise cross validation with numerous other analytical techniques. The method was developed and validated by analyzing a calcination series (300 – 600 °C) of mesoporous templated IrOx films ex-situ and operando under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions. The employed environmental electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometric (ECSE) analysis revealed during OER the change of optical and electronic properties, i.e. the dielectric functions, resistivity and band-to-band transitions (p-d band transitions). Film thickness and porosity were validated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray reflectometry (XRR) or ellipsometric porosimetry (EP), electrical and electronic properties by means of conductivity measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. The electronic structures of the catalysts from valence electron energy loss spectra (VEELS) derived from ε1 and ε2 from SE measurements reveal a direct correlation with electrochemical activities in OER. In the presentation reversible and irreversible potential-dependent changes of the catalyst properties during operation will be discussed along with the dynamics of gas formation, transport and dissolution at different potentials. T2 - 11th Workshop Ellipsometry (WSE 11) CY - Steyr, Austria DA - 06.09.2021 KW - Ectrocatalysis KW - Mesoporous iridium oxide films KW - Non-destructive operando analysis KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53915 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Broichert, C. A1 - Klingenhof, M. A1 - Frisch, M. A1 - Dresp, S. A1 - Kubo, N.M. A1 - Artz, J. A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Palkovits, S. A1 - Beine, A.K. A1 - Strasser, P. A1 - Palkovits, R. T1 - Particle size-controlled synthesis of highperformance MnCo-based materials for alkaline OER at fluctuating potentials JF - Catalysis Science and Technology N2 - For the large-scale generation of hydrogen via water electrolysis the design of long term stable and active catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a key challenge. Most catalysts suffer from severe structural corrosion that becomes even more pronounced at fluctuating potentials. Herein, MnCo based cubic particles were prepared via a hydrothermal approach, in which the edge length of the micron-sized particles can be controlled by changing the pH value of the precursor solution. The cubes are composed of varying amounts of MnCo2O4, CoCO3 and a mixed (Mn/Co)CO3 phase. Structure–activity relationships were deduced revealing a volcano-type behavior for the intrinsic OER activity and fraction of spinel oxide phase. A low overpotential of 0.37 V at 10 mA cm−2 and a stability of more than 25 h was achieved in 1.0 M KOH using a rotating disc electrode (RDE) setup. The best performing catalyst material was successfully tested under dynamic process conditions for 9.5 h and shows a superior catalytic activity as anode for the Overall water splitting in an electrolyser setup in 1.0 M KOH at 333 K compared to a reference NiCo-spinel catalyst. KW - Water electrolysis KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Structure activity relationships PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-536050 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cy00905b SN - 2044-4753 VL - 11 IS - 12 SP - 7278 EP - 7286 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-53605 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Kotil, L. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Kraehnert, R. A1 - Hertwig, Andreas T1 - Spectroscopic ellipsometric analysis of elemental composition and porosity of mesoporous iridium-titanium mixed oxide thin films for electrocatalytic splitting of water N2 - Porous materials play an important role in several fields of technology, especially for energy applications like photovoltaics, electrolysis or batteries. The activity of porous films is affected by properties like porosity, film thickness, chemical composition of the material as well as the crystallinity of the framework. The complex morphology of such porous films constitutes a challenge for modern analytical techniques and requires approaches employing the combination/complementation of data of different analytical methods. In this contribution we characterize thin mesoporous iridium-titanium mixed oxide film properties by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Mesoporous iridium oxide - titanium oxide (IrOx-TiOx) films were prepared via dip-coating of a solution containing a triblock-copolymer as structure-directing agent, an iridium precursor as well as a titanium precursor in ethanol. Deposited films with different amounts of iridium (0 wt%Ir to 100 wt%Ir) were synthesized and calcined in air. The thin films were analyzed with SE using the Bruggeman effective medium approximation (BEMA) for modelling. The results were compared with electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) as part of a combined SEM/EDS/STRATAGem Analysis. T2 - 8th International conference on spectroscopic ellipsometry (ICSE-8) CY - Barcelona, Spain DA - 26.05.2019 KW - Mesoporous iridium-titanium mixed oxides KW - Thin films KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - EPMA KW - Ellipsometric porosimetry PY - 2019 AN - OPUS4-48387 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Sachse, René T1 - Towards hydrogen economy: correlative ex-situ ellipsometric analysis and operando investigation during oxygen evolution reaction of mesoporous iridium oxides films N2 - In the face of rising energy demand and the impending climate change the development of a sustainable, fossil-free fuel and chemical production is of global importance. One possible goal is the development of electrochemical conversion processes using catalysts. Porous materials play an important role in such energy applications. The key to the development of improved catalysts is a better understanding of the relations between their performance, stability and physico-chemical properties. However, the complex morphology of such catalysts constitutes a challenge even for modern analytical techniques. Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a versatile method for studying material properties by using appropriate models (e.g. film thickness, optical and electronic properties). The fact that the material properties cannot be taken directly from the measured spectra, the developed models have to be validated. In a first step, the model for the ellipsometric fit studies of a calcination series of mesoporous iridium oxide films (300 – 600 °C) was investigated and validated with respect to their material properties. Moreover, the electronic structures of the catalysts reveal a direct correlation with electrochemical activities. The development of an environmental cell offers the possibility of investigations under real conditions. This will allow changes in the optical and electronic properties during the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. T2 - Colloquium Department Seminar 6. CY - BAM, Berlin, Germany DA - 03.03.2020 KW - Hydrogen economy KW - Correlative ex-situ ellipsometric analysis KW - Ellipsometric operando investigation KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Mesoporous iridium oxides films PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51215 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Krähnert, R. T1 - Towards hydrogen economy: multimethod analysis and operando investigation of mesoporous iridium oxides films for electrocatalysis, EMPIR/EURAMET Project HyMet 16ENG03 N2 - In the face of rising energy demand and the impending climate change the development of a sustainable, fossil-free fuel and chemical production is of global importance. One possible goal is the development of electrochemical conversion processes using catalysts. Porous materials play an important role in such energy applications. The key to the development of improved catalysts is a better understanding of the relations between their performance, stability and physico-chemical properties. However, the complex morphology of such catalysts constitutes a challenge even for modern analytical techniques. Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a versatile method for studying material properties by using appropriate models (e.g. film thickness, optical and electronic properties). The fact that the material properties cannot be taken directly from the measured spectra, the developed models have to be validated. In a first step, the model for the ellipsometric fit studies of a calcination series of mesoporous iridium oxide films (300 – 600 °C) was investigated and validated with respect to their material properties. Moreover, the electronic structures of the catalysts reveal a direct correlation with electrochemical activities. The development of an environmental cell offers the possibility of investigations under real conditions. This will allow changes in the optical and electronic properties during the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. T2 - HyMet dissemination event CY - Online meeting DA - 17.11.2020 KW - Correlative ex-situ ellipsometric analysis KW - Ellipsometric operando investigation KW - Hydrogen economy KW - Mesoporous iridium oxides films KW - Oxygen evolution reaction PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51629 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -