The mechanisms of formic acid (HCOOH) oxidation on Pt(111) under electrochemical conditions have been studied using density functional theory and then compared with the analogous gas-phase reaction. Results show that HCOOH oxidation under a water-covered surface behaves substantially differently than in the gas phase or using a solvation model involving only a few water molecules. Using these models, we evaluated the detailed reaction process, including energies and geometric structures of intermediates and transition states under the influence of different solvation models and electrode potentials. Our calculations indicate that this potential-dependent electrochemical oxidation proceeds via a multipath mechanism (involving both the adsorbed HCOOH and HCOO intermediates), a result succinctly rationalizing conflicting experimental observations. Moreover, this study highlights how subtle changes in electrochemical reaction environments can influence (electro)catalysis.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key process in combustion, corrosion, cellular respiration, and energy technology. Under electrochemical conditions with a supply of hydrogen, the electrocatalytic ORR [1] is also the reaction that allows polymer-electrolyte (or proton-exchange) membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to operate. Economic and environmental factors are driving research to develop practical and environmentally sustainable energy sources as well as long-living heterogeneous catalysts. The ORR is expected to play a central role in these technologies, but a more fundamental understanding of the ORR is needed.An atomic-level understanding of the ORR mechanism is still in its early stages because of the high complexity of ORR kinetics. What is known, however, is that the complete electrochemical ORR involves four net coupled proton and electron transfers (CPETs) to molecular oxygen at the cathode. Although the idealized electrochemical reaction generates 1.23 V per electron (Scheme 1), the standard operating potential for the electrocatalytic ORR on Pt (111) is below 0.9 V. Determining the cause of this overpotential of about 0.3 V and improving the overall activity (increasing the current density) are the keys to improving ORR catalyst design and to better harness the ORR as a practical means for energy conversion.
In the industrially important Chlor-Alkali process, the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) over a ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) catalyst competes with the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This selectivity issue is elucidated on the microscopic level with the single-crystalline model electrode RuO2(110) by employing density functional theory (DFT) calculations in combination with the concept of volcano plots. We demonstrate that one monolayer of TiO2(110) supported on RuO2(110) enhances the selectivity towards the CER by several orders of magnitudes, while preserving the high activity for the CER. This win-win situation is attributed to the different slopes of the volcano curves for the CER and OER.
Computational modeling can provide important insights into chemical reactions in both applied and fundamental fields of research. One of the most critical processes needed in practical renewable energy sources is the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Besides being the key process in combustion and corrosion, the ORR has an elusive mechanism that may proceed in a number of complicated reaction steps in electrochemical fuel cells. Indeed, the mechanism of the ORR on highly studied Pt(111) electrodes has been the subject of interest and debate for decades. Herein, we first outline the theory behind these types of simulations and then show how to use these quantum mechanical approaches and approximations to create a realistic model. After reviewing the performance of these methods in studying the binding of molecular oxygen to Pt(111), we then outline our own results in elucidating the ORR and its dependence on environmental parameters, such as solvent, thermodynamic energies, and the presence of an external electrode potential. This approach can, in principle, be applied to other equally complicated investigations of other surfaces or electrochemical reactions.
Photosynthetic water oxidation in plants occurs at an inorganic calcium manganese oxo cluster, which is known as the oxygen evolving complex (OEC), in photosystem II. Herein, we report a synthetic OEC model based on a molecular manganese vanadium oxide cluster, [Mn4 V4 O17 (OAc)3 ](3-) . The compound is based on a [Mn4 O4 ](6+) cubane core, which catalyzes the homogeneous, visible-light-driven oxidation of water to molecular oxygen and is stabilized by a tripodal [V4 O13 ](6-) polyoxovanadate and three acetate ligands. When combined with the photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)3 ](2+) and the oxidant persulfate, visible-light-driven water oxidation with turnover numbers of approximately 1150 and turnover frequencies of about 1.75 s(-1) is observed. Electrochemical, mass-spectrometric, and spectroscopic studies provide insight into the cluster stability and reactivity. This compound could serve as a model for the molecular structure and reactivity of the OEC and for heterogeneous metal oxide water-oxidation catalysts.
Heptazine‐based polymeric carbon nitrides (PCN) are promising photocatalysts for light‐driven redox transformations. However, their activity is hampered by low surface area resulting in low concentration of accessible active sites. Herein, we report a bottom‐up preparation of PCN nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution (ca. 10±3 nm), which are fully soluble in water showing no gelation or precipitation over several months. They allow photocatalysis to be carried out under quasi‐homogeneous conditions. The superior performance of water‐soluble PCN, compared to conventional solid PCN, is shown in photocatalytic H2O2 production via reduction of oxygen accompanied by highly selective photooxidation of 4‐methoxybenzyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol or lignocellulose‐derived feedstock (ethanol, glycerol, glucose). The dissolved photocatalyst can be easily recovered and re‐dissolved by simple modulation of the ionic strength of the medium, without any loss of activity and selectivity.
Emerging strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, that show increased transmission fitness and/or immune evasion are classified as “variants of concern” (VOCs). Recently, a SARS-CoV-2 variant first identified in November 2021 in South Africa has been recognized as a fifth VOC, termed “Omicron”. What makes this VOC so alarming is the high number of changes, especially in the viral Spike protein, and accumulating evidence for increased transmission efficiency and escape from neutralizing antibodies. In an amazingly short time, the Omicron VOC has outcompeted the previously dominating Delta VOC. However, it seems that the Omicron VOC is overall less pathogenic compared to other SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Here, we provide an overview of the mutations in the Omicron genome and the resulting changes in viral proteins compared to other SARS-CoV-2 strains and discuss their potential functional consequences.
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