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The oxides, hydroxides, and oxo-hydroxides of iron belong to the most abundant materials on earth. They also feature a wide range of practical applications. In many environments, they can undergo facile phase transformations and crystallization processes.
Water appears to play a critical role in many of these processes. Despite numerous attempts, the role of water has not been fully revealed yet. We present a new approach to study the influence of water in the crystallization and phase transformations of iron oxides.
The approach employs model-type iron oxide films that comprise a defined homogeneous nanostructure. The films are exposed to air containing different amounts of water reaching up to pressures of 10 bar. Ex situ analysis via scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and X-ray diffraction is combined with operando near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to follow water-induced changes in hematite nd ferrihydrite. Water proves to be critical for the nucleation of ematite domains in ferrihydrite, the resulting crystallite orientation, and the underlying crystallization mechanism.
With the increasing production of renewable energy and concomitant depletion of fossil resources, the demand for efficient water splitting electrocatalysts continues to grow. Iridium (Ir) and iridium oxides (IrOₓ) are currently the most promising candidates for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic medium, which remains the bottleneck in water electrolysis. Yet, the extremely high costs for Ir hamper a widespread production of hydrogen (H₂) on an industrial scale. Herein, the authors report a concept for the synthesis of electrode coatings with template-controlled mesoporosity surface-modified with highly active Ir species. The improved utilization of noble metal species relies on the synthesis of soft-templated metal oxide supports and a subsequent shape-conformal deposition of Ir species via atomic layer deposition (ALD) at two different reaction temperatures. The study reveals that a minimum Ir content in the mesoporous titania-based support is mandatory to provide a sufficient electrical bulk conductivity. After ALD, a significantly enhanced OER activity results in dependency of the ALD cycle number and temperature. The most active developed electrocatalyst film achieves an outstanding mass-specific activity of 2622 mA mg(Ir)⁻¹ at 1.60 V(RHE) in a rotating-disc electrode (RDE) setup at 25 °C using 0.5 m H₂SO₄ as a supporting electrolyte.
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.
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.
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.
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
Thin mesoporous metal oxide films are versatile and attractive candidates for several energy applications like photovoltaics, electrolysis or batteries. Due to their high surface area and ordered pore structure, mesoporous metal oxides demonstrate higher activities. The performance of the porous films is affected by properties like size and shape of the mesopores as well as the crystallinity of the framework. The exact determination and metrological evaluation of the complex morphology of thin mesoporous films requires a new analytical approach employing to combined data of different analytical methods. In this contribution we present a novel evaluation procedure for spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) to analyse thin mesoporous iridium oxide films.
Mesoporous iridium oxide films were prepared via dip-coating of a solution containing a triblock-copolymer as structure directing agent and an iridium precursor in ethanol. Deposited films were calcined in air at temperatures between 300 and 600 °C. Their morphology was studied with SEM and an electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and correlated via SE with a Bruggeman effective medium approximation (BEMA). The developed SE model described the film thickness as well as the porosity.
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The contribution will assess in detail the novel approach to analyse the morphology and porosity of thin metal oxide films with spectroscopic ellipsometry. Moreover, the advantages of the new developed approach will be discussed as well as combination of datasets from multiple measurements to development new methods for innovative energy technologies.
Thin mesoporous metal oxide films are versatile and attractive candidates for several energy applications like photovoltaics, electrolysis or batteries. Due to their high surface area and ordered pore structure, mesoporous metal oxides demonstrate higher activities. The performance of the porous films is affected by properties like size and shape of the mesopores as well as the crystallinity of the framework. The exact determination and metrological evaluation of the complex morphology of thin mesoporous films requires a new analytical approach employing to combined data of different analytical methods. In this contribution we present a novel evaluation procedure for spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) to analyse thin mesoporous iridium oxide films. Mesoporous iridium oxide films were prepared via dip-coating of a solution containing a triblock-copolymer as structure directing agent and an Iridium precursor in ethanol. Deposited films were calcined in air at temperatures between 300 and 600 °C. Their morphology was studied with SEM and an electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and correlated via SE with a Bruggeman effective medium approximation (BEMA). The developed SE model described the film thickness as well as the porosity.
... The contribution will assess in detail the novel approach to analyse the morphology and porosity of thin metal oxide films with spectroscopic ellipsometry. Moreover, the advantages of the new developed approach will be discussed as well as combination of datasets from multiple measurements to development new methods for innovative energy technologies.
Thin mesoporous metal oxide films are versatile and attractive candidates for several energy applications like photovoltaics, electrolysis or batteries. Due to their high surface area and ordered pore structure, mesoporous metal oxides demonstrate higher activities. The performance of the porous films is affected by properties like size and shape of the mesopores as well as the crystallinity of the framework. The exact determination and metrological evaluation of the complex morphology of thin mesoporous films requires a new analytical approach employing to combined data of different analytical methods. In this contribution we present a novel evaluation procedure for spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) to analyse thin mesoporous iridium oxide films.
Mesoporous iridium oxide films were prepared via dip-coating of a solution containing a triblock-copolymer as structure directing agent and an iridium precursor in ethanol. Deposited films were calcined in air at temperatures between 300 and 600 °C. Their morphology was studied with SEM and an electron probe microanalysis (EPMA)and correlated via SE with a Bruggeman effective medium approximation (BEMA). The developed SE model described the film thickness as well as the porosity.
Figure 1a shows a top-view SEM image of mesoporous IrO2 film calcined at 375 °C. The image reveals that the films exhibit a well-ordered mesopore structure with an average pore diameter of 16 nm and a periodic distance between pore centres of 24 nm (FFT inset). Figure 1b is a parity plot of film thicknesses determined by cross-section SEM versus SE of IrO2 film samples prepared at different calcination temperatures. The porosity from the SE model is in good agreement to the porosity values obtained by EPMA.
The contribution will assess in detail the novel approach to analyse the morphology and porosity of thin metal oxide films with spectroscopic ellipsometry. Moreover, the advantages of the new developed approach will be discussed as well as combination of datasets from multiple measurements to development new methods for innovative energy technologies.
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.
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 even for modern analytical techniques and requires new 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 Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at an SEM.
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 even for modern analytical techniques and requires new 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 Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at an SEM.
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.
Hydrogen features a very high specific energy density and is therefore a promising candidate for clean fuel from renewable resources. Water electrolysis can convert electrical energy into storable and transportable hydrogen gas. Under acidic conditions, platinum is the most active and stable monometallic catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Yet, platinum is rare and needs to be used efficiently. Here, we report a synthesis concept for colloidal bimetallic platinum–ruthenium and rhodium–ruthenium nanoparticles (PtRuNP, RhRuNP) and their incorporation into ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) films. The films exhibit high surface area, good electrical conductivity and well-dispersed nanoparticles inside the mesopores. The nanoparticles retain their size, crystallinity and composition during carbonization. In the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), PtRuNP/OMC catalyst films show up to five times higher activity per Pt than Pt/C/Nafion® and PtRu/C/Nafion® reference catalysts.
For the determination of porosity of Ir oxide thin films, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) can be used as part of a combined SEM/EDS/STRATAGem analysis. The mass deposition (in μg cm-2) of films was calculated with the analysis software STRATAGem via k-values measured with EDS. The average density of coated films was obtained from the mass deposition and the film thickness as measured by the cross-section SEM. The porosity was calculated by dividing the average film density by the bulk (theoretical) density of the film material.
Film porosities were counterchecked by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) using the Bruggeman effective medium approximation (BEMA).
The results obtained by both analytical approaches/methods used, SEM/EDS/STRATAGem and SE were in good agreement.
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 even for modern analytical techniques and requires new 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 Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at an SEM.
Catalysts are important components in chemical processes because they lower the activation energy and thus determine the rate, efficiency and selectivity of a chemical reaction. This property plays an important role in many of today’s processes, including the electrochemical splitting of water. Due to the continuous development of catalyst materials, they are becoming more complex, which makes a reliable evaluation of physicochemical properties challenging even for modern analytical measurement techniques and industrial manufacturing.
We present a fast, vacuum-free and non-destructive analytical approach using multi-sample spectroscopic ellipsometry to determine relevant material parameters such as film thickness, porosity and composition of mesoporous IrOx–TiOy films. Mesoporous IrOx–TiOy films were deposited on Si wafers by sol–gel synthesis, varying the composition of the mixed oxide films between 0 and 100 wt%Ir. The ellipsometric modeling is based on an anisotropic Bruggeman effective medium approximation (a-BEMA) to determine the film thickness and volume fraction of the material and pores. The volume fraction of the material was again modeled using a Bruggeman EMA to determine the chemical composition of the materials. The ellipsometric fitting results were compared with complementary methods, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) as well as environmental ellipsometric porosimetry (EEP).
Ellipsometry-based approach for the characterization of mesoporous thin films for H2 technologies
(2021)
Porous thin layer materials are gaining importance in different fields of technology and pose a challenge to the accurate determination of materials properties important for their function. In this work, we demonstrate a hybrid measurement technique using ellipsometry together with other independent methods for validation. Ellipsometry provides information about the porosity of different mesoporous films (PtRuNP/OMC = 45%; IrOx = 46%) as well as about the pore size (pore radius of ca. 5 nm for PtRuNP/OMC). In addition, the electronic structure of a material, such as intraband transitions of a mesoporous IrOx film, can be identified, which can be used to better understand the mechanisms of chemical processes. In addition, we show that ellipsometry can be used as a scalable imaging and visualization method for quality assurance in production. These require accurate and traceable measurements, with reference materials playing an important role that include porosity and other related properties. We show that our novel analytical methods are useful for improving analytical work in this entire field.
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.