ABSTRACT:In situ electrochemical X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements were performed at the Pt L 3 and Ce L 3 edges of the Pt−CeO x /C catalyst, which was prepared by a combined process of precipitation and coimpregnation methods, as well as at the Pt L 3 edge of the conventional Pt/C catalyst in oxygen-saturated H 2 SO 4 solution to clarify the role of CeO x in the reduction of the overpotential for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the Pt−CeO x nanocomposite compared with the conventional Pt/C catalyst. XAFS measurements clearly show that the enhancement of ORR activity is attributed to the inhibition of Pt oxide formation by the CeO x layer, of which Ce 3+ was oxidized to Ce 4+ instead of Pt at the Pt oxide formation potential.

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Two examples of confined molecular catalysts are presented. PtCl(4) (2-) complexes are attached to a thiol-terminated monolayer by ligand exchange of Cl(-) with a thiolate group and incorporated in a multilayer of viologen moieties by ion exchange. All Cl(-) ligands are replaced by OH(-) or H(2) O before HER takes place. Ex situ and in situ XAFS measurements confirm that the Pt complexes accelerate HER without being converted into Pt particles.

Dependence on lithium-ion batteries for automobile applications is rapidly increasing. The emerging use of anionic redox can boost the energy density of batteries, but the fundamental origin of anionic redox is still under debate. Moreover, to realize anionic redox, many reported electrode materials rely on manganese ions through π-type interactions with oxygen. Here, through a systematic experimental and theoretical study on a binary system of Li 3 NbO 4 −NiO, we demonstrate for the first time the unexpectedly large contribution of oxygen to charge compensation for electrochemical oxidation in Ni-based materials. In general, for Ni-based materials, e.g., LiNiO 2 , charge compensation is achieved mainly by Ni oxidation, with a lower contribution from oxygen. In contrast, for Li 3 NbO 4 −NiO, oxygen-based charge compensation is triggered by structural disordering and σ-type interactions with nickel ions, which are associated with a unique environment for oxygen, i.e., a linear Ni−O−Ni configuration in the disordered system. Reversible anionic redox with a small hysteretic behavior was achieved for LiNi 2/3 Nb 1/3 O 2 with a cation-disordered Li/Ni arrangement. Further Li enrichment in the structure destabilizes anionic redox and leads to irreversible oxygen loss due to the disappearance of the linear Ni−O−Ni configuration and the formation of unstable Ni ions with high oxidation states. On the basis of these results, we discuss the possibility of using σ-type interactions for anionic redox to design advanced electrode materials for highenergy lithium-ion batteries.

The structure of the perfluorosulfonated ionomer (PFSI)/Pt(111) interface in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA)-like configuration of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, that is, a vacuum evaporated Pt layer/PEM(Nafion membrane)/PFSI(adhesion Nafion layer)/Pt(111) single crystal, and its bias-induced change were investigated by surface X-ray scattering measurement at an atomic level. Crystal truncation rod measurement shows that PFSI adsorbed on the Pt( 111)-(1 × 1) surface without bias. When the Pt(111) electrode was positively biased to form Pt oxide, the PFSI layer was detached from the Pt surface and oxygen atoms penetrated into the Pt lattice.

Conditions for electrochemical deposition of atomically flat, pseudomorphic Pt layer on Au(111) electrode surface were established based on electrochemical and in situ resonance surface X-ray scattering (RSXS) studies on potential dependence of Pt deposition. When Pt was deposited at relatively large overpotential, a three-dimensionally grown rough Pt layer was formed on a Au(111) surface. When the overpotential was very small, Pt nuclei was formed but did not grow any more. At appropriate overpotential between these two potentials, atomically flat, pseudomorphic Pt layer was grown with a layer-by-layer growth mode.

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A novel in situ Raman imaging technique has been developed to visualize the Li-ion battery reaction during the charge/discharge operation. A specially designed cell enables to measure Raman spectra at high speed so that the in situ measurements are carried out during the reaction. The distribution of the state of charge in cross-section of LiCoO 2 cathode has been visualized as a demonstration. Inhomogeneous state of charge distribution is observed and there are some active materials where Li + does not completely return after discharging. This technique enables to evaluate not only the electrode performance but also battery degradation, and thus may promote the realization of the next generation batteries.