Transition metal oxides are of high interest in both energy storage (batteries) and production of non-fossil fuels by (photo)electrocatalysis. Their functionally crucial charge (oxidation state) changes and electrocatalytic properties are best investigated under electrochemical operation conditions. We established operando Raman spectroscopy for investigation of the atomic structure and oxidation state of a non-crystalline, hydrated, and phosphate-containing Co oxide material (CoCat), which is an electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at neutral pH and is structurally similar to LiCoO2 of batteries. Raman spectra were collected at various sub-catalytic and catalytic electric potentials. 2H labeling suggests Co oxidation coupled to Co—OH deprotonation at catalytic potentials. 18O labeling supports O—O bond formation starting from terminally coordinated oxygen species. Two broad bands around 877 cm−1 and 1077 cm−1 are assigned to CoCat-internal H2PO4-. Raman peaks corresponding to terminal oxide (Co=O) or reactive oxygen species were not detectable; 1000–1200 cm−1 bands were instead assigned to two-phonon Raman scattering. At an increasingly positive potential, the intensity of the Raman bands decreased, which is unexpected and explained by self-absorption relating to CoCat electrochromism. A red-shift of the Co—O Raman bands with increasing potentials was described by four Gaussian bands of potential-dependent amplitudes. By linear combination of Raman band amplitudes, we can follow individually the Co(2+/3+) and Co(3+/4+) redox transitions, whereas previously published x-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis could determine only the averaged Co oxidation state. Our results show how electrochemical operando Raman spectroscopy can be employed as a potent analytical tool in mechanistic investigations on OER catalysis.
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21 May 2020
Research Article|
May 20 2020
Operando Raman spectroscopy tracks oxidation-state changes in an amorphous Co oxide material for electrocatalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction
Chiara Pasquini
;
Chiara Pasquini
Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Luca D’Amario
;
Luca D’Amario
Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Ivelina Zaharieva
;
Ivelina Zaharieva
Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Holger Dau
Holger Dau
a)
Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin
, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: holger.dau@fu-berlin.de
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a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: holger.dau@fu-berlin.de
Note: This paper is part of the JCP Special Topic on Interfacial Structure and Dynamics for Electrochemical Energy Storage.
J. Chem. Phys. 152, 194202 (2020)
Article history
Received:
March 02 2020
Accepted:
April 27 2020
Citation
Chiara Pasquini, Luca D’Amario, Ivelina Zaharieva, Holger Dau; Operando Raman spectroscopy tracks oxidation-state changes in an amorphous Co oxide material for electrocatalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction. J. Chem. Phys. 21 May 2020; 152 (19): 194202. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0006306
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