Operando Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Research Articles

Ionic Pairs-Engineered Fluorinated Covalent Organic Frameworks Toward Direct Air Capture of CO2.

The covalent organic frameworks (COFs) possessing high crystallinity and capability to capture low-concentration CO2 (400ppm) from air are still underdeveloped. The challenge lies in simultaneously incorporating high-density active sites for CO2 insertion and maintaining the ordered structure. Herein, a structure engineering approach is developed to afford an ionic pair-functionalized crystalline and stable fluorinated COF (F-COF) skeleton. The ordered structure of the F-COF is well maintained after the integration of abundant basic fluorinated alcoholate anions, as revealed by synchrotron X-ray scattering experiments. The breakthrough test demonstrates its attractive performance in capturing (400ppm) CO2 from gas mixtures via O─C bond formation, as indicated by the in situ spectroscopy and operando nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using 13C-labeled CO2 sources. Both theoretical and experimental thermodynamic studies reveal the reaction enthalpy of ≈-40kJmol-1 between CO2 and the COF scaffolds. This implies weaker interaction strength compared with state-of-the-art amine-derived sorbents, thus allowing complete CO2 release with less energy input. The structure evolution study from synchrotron X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering confirms the well-maintained crystalline patterns after CO2 insertion. The as-developed proof-of-concept approach provides guidance on anchoring binding sites for direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 in crystalline scaffolds.

Atomic Ruthenium‐Promoted Cadmium Sulfide for Photocatalytic Production of Amino Acids from Biomass Derivatives

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are widely used as important ingredients for other nitrogen‐containing molecules. Here, we report the sustainable production of amino acids from biomass‐derived hydroxy acids with high activity under visible‐light irradiation and mild conditions, using atomic ruthenium‐promoted cadmium sulfide (Ru1/CdS). On a metal basis, the optimized Ru1/CdS exhibits a maximal alanine formation rate of 26.0 molAla·gRu‑1·h‑1, which is 1.7 times and more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of its nanoparticle counterpart and the conventional thermocatalytic process, respectively. Integrated spectroscopic analysis and density functional theory calculations attribute the high performance of Ru1/CdS to the facilitated charge separation and O‐H bond dissociation of the a‐hydroxy group, here of lactic acid. The operando nuclear magnetic resonance further infers a unique “double activation” mechanism of both the CH‐OH and CH3‐CH‐OH structures in lactic acid, which significantly accelerates its photocatalytic amination toward alanine.

Atomic Ruthenium-Promoted Cadmium Sulfide for Photocatalytic Production of Amino Acids from Biomass Derivatives.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are widely used as important ingredients for other nitrogen-containing molecules. Here, we report the sustainable production of amino acids from biomass-derived hydroxy acids with high activity under visible-light irradiation and mild conditions, using atomic ruthenium-promoted cadmium sulfide (Ru1/CdS). On a metal basis, the optimized Ru1/CdS exhibits a maximal alanine formation rate of 26.0molAla·gRu‑1·h‑1, which is 1.7 times and more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of its nanoparticle counterpart and the conventional thermocatalytic process, respectively. Integrated spectroscopic analysis and density functional theory calculations attribute the high performance of Ru1/CdS to the facilitated charge separation and O-H bond dissociation of the a-hydroxy group, here of lactic acid. The operando nuclear magnetic resonance further infers a unique "double activation" mechanism of both the CH-OH and CH3-CH-OH structures in lactic acid, which significantly accelerates its photocatalytic amination toward alanine.

Operando Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Studies of a Trickle-bed Reactor Using D-T2 Correlations.

Catalytic conversions in fine-chemical and pharmaceutical production are increasingly performed in trickle-bed rectors. Optimisation of these processes is usually based on end of pipe measurement made at specific residence times. This process is both time-consuming and the data sometimes challenging to interpret. In the present work, operando nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques both at the scale of the whole bed (global) and spatially resolved within the bed (local) are used to gain new insights into the catalytic conversion process under reaction conditions. Spatially resolved spectroscopic and diffusion-T2-relaxation (D-T2) methods interrogate local differences in chemical conversion and selectivity, and mass transport (molecular self-diffusion) respectively, thereby providing valuable information for process simulation models. This capability is demonstrated using the continuous flow three phase (gas-liquid-solid) hydrogenation of benzonitrile over a fixed bed of 0.5 wt% Pd/Al2O3 catalyst pellets yielding toluene and benzylamine. Global 1H spectroscopic and D-T2 were used to monitor chemical conversion and the approach to steady state; these were subsequently followed by spatially resolved 1H spectra and spatially resolved D-T2 correlations to examine the local differences in axial conversion and selectivity of the catalyst bed packing. At steady-state a global conversion of 63% was achieved with 65% and 25% selectivity to benzylamine and toluene respectively. Heterogeneities in the local (axial) conversion and selectivity differed by 31% along the total catalyst bed length. These techniques should be applicable to many three-phase heterogeneous catalytic systems provided that the T2 relaxation time of the reactants and products is not prohibitively small.

Operando NMR methods for studying electrocatalysis

The combination of electrochemical measurements with spectroscopic characterizations provides valuable insights into reaction mechanisms. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, as a powerful technique due to its atomic specificity and versatility in studying gas, liquid, and solid, allows the study of electrolyte solution, catalyst and catalyst-adsorbate interfaces. When applied in operando, NMR can offer molecular-level insights into various electrochemical processes. Operando NMR has been applied extensively in battery research, but relatively underexplored for electrocatalysis in the past two decades. In this mini review, we first introduce the operando electrochemical NMR setups, categorized by different probe designs. Then we review the applications of operando NMR for monitoring the electrolyte solution and the catalyst-adsorbate interface. Considering the high environmental impact of electrochemical conversion of CO2 into value-added products, we zoom in to the use of operando NMR in studying electrochemical CO2 reduction. Finally, we provide our perspective on further developing and applying operando NMR methods for understanding the complex reaction network of Cu-catalyzed electrochemical CO2 reduction.

Development of a NMR Device Adapted to Operando Analysis of Electrochemical Commercial Cells

NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy is a common analytical technique for analysing electrode materials. Most of these analyses are ex situ NMR measurements, a post mortem analysis of the cell. Yet, development of in situ and operando NMR considerably increased. Since the first in situ measurement reported by Gerald et al [1] in 2000, a large variety of operando NMR approaches have been developed and applied to batteries [2–5].Two levers of improvement remain for operando NMR: the battery-casing design, usually home-made, and the geometry of the NMR resonator used to detect the spectrum.Battery-casing goes from flexible cells in a clear pouch to capsule, Swagelok or coin cells. Home-made casings are usually used to avoid distortion and sensitivity loss in the NMR measurement, attributed to the conductive casings. Another way of improvement is the type of NMR resonator to fit a larger variety of cell geometries. Solenoids, saddle coil, hairpin coil or parallel plates are currently used.Electrochemistry is sensitive to cell fabrication, so home-made cells are intrinsically less reproducible than commercial cells. To increase the repeatability for a higher number of cycles and from one cell to another, we collaborate with a cell maker to get industrial pouch cells and we use commercial protocols. Nevertheless, studying such cells implies new challenges. First, strong and controlled pressure must be applied on the cell. An innovative pressure system was created to be compatible with the NMR requirements, mainly low available space and the absence of magnetic or strongly paramagnetic materials. It also involved adapting the resonator to the commercial cell geometry. The second challenge is the attenuation and distortion of the NMR signal by conductors (skin effect for radio-frequency fields).Recently, Walder [6]. arose our interest with their report on operando NMR measurement for a stainless steel coin cell. We will present measurements that quantify the influence of the components of a commercial battery (casing material, electrodes, current collector and number of stacks).This development and these measurements will lead in close future to performing operando NMR of commercial cells in fast charging conditions (for example on silicon Li-ion batteries).[1] R. E. Gerald et al., J. Power Sources 89, 237 (2000).[2] X. Liu et al., Adv Mater 33, 2005878 (2021).[3] O. Pecher et al., Chem. Mater. 29, 213 (2017).[4] K. Gotoh et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 8, 14472 (2020).[5] K. J. Sanders et al., Carbon 189, 377 (2022).[6] B. J. Walder et al., Sci. Adv. 7, eabg8298 (2021).

Novel Operando Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Approach for Tracking the Electrode State of Charge in Li/Na-Ion Batteries

Lithium and sodium-ion batteries have become the focal point of interest for the energy transition due to their promising applications for electric cars and energy grid storage. Operando characterization of batteries is critical to understand the degradation processes and increasing their electrochemical performance, especially in abusive conditions like during fast charges. Knowledge of the redox state of each electrode is essential to identify the origins of capacity loss in full batteries. Among the methods used for these investigations, operando Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methods are promising since, without destroying the battery, they enable monitoring in real-time the electrochemical processes and the formation of short-lived metastable or reactive phases [1,2].Up to now, most operando NMR studies have focused on 7Li NMR spectroscopy to follow the lithiation and degradation processes in the solid electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. However, the large shifts and broadenings of the NMR spectra, which result from the redox-active paramagnetic ions (Ni2/3+, Co4+, Mn3/4+) or from the metallicity of the electrodes [3], complicate operando NMR spectra acquisition and interpretation for full batteries.Herein, we demonstrate that the 1H operando NMR signal of the liquid electrolyte solvent can be used to spy on the positive electrode evolution while benefitting from the high sensitivity of 1H liquid-state NMR compared to 7Li NMR. So far, operando NMR using the liquid electrolyte signal was mainly exploited to follow electrolyte decomposition [4] or to image indirectly dendrite formation [5]. Contrary to the lithium or sodium atoms composing the electrodes, hydrogen atoms in the electrolyte solvent are not a direct probe of the state of charge of the electrode. We demonstrate that the 1H NMR signal of the electrolyte molecules in the battery is, however, highly sensitive to the magnetic susceptibility (and therefore the redox state) of the neighboring particles of positive electrode active material.The state-of-charge (SOC) of the positive electrodes in the charging battery can be tracked indirectly through distortion in the spectrum of the dimethyl carbonate (DMC) solvent near the positive electrode. The effect of the other battery components such as current collectors, separators, or even negative electrodes is shown to be negligible compared to the perturbations induced by the positive electrode. We define specific descriptors to track the changes in the distorted 1H NMR spectrum of the battery and we correlate these changes with the state-of-charge of the positive electrode inside the battery as it is charged and discharged. This approach will enable measuring, operando, the redox state of positive electrodes in batteries, even when their 7Li signals cannot be detected by NMR. Exact knowledge of the redox state will contribute to a better exploitation of the electrochemical curves in full batteries.[1] Bagheri, K.; Deschamps, M.; Salager, E. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance for Interfaces in Rechargeable Batteries. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 2023, 64, 101675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101675.[2] Liu, X.; Liang, Z.; Xiang, Y.; Lin, M.; Li, Q.; Liu, Z.; Zhong, G.; Fu, R.; Yang, Y. Solid‐State NMR and MRI Spectroscopy for Li/Na Batteries: Materials, Interface, and in Situ Characterization. Advanced Materials 2021, 33 (50), 2005878. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202005878.[3] Grey, C. P.; Dupré, N. NMR Studies of Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries. Chemical Reviews 2004, 104 (10), 4493–4512. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr020734p.[4] Wiemers-Meyer, S.; Winter, M.; Nowak, S. NMR as a Powerful Tool to Study Lithium Ion Battery Electrolytes. Annual Reports on NMR Spectroscopy 2019, 121–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.arnmr.2018.12.003.[5] Ilott, A. J.; Mohammadi, M.; Chang, H. J.; Grey, C. P.; Jerschow, A. Real-Time 3D Imaging of Microstructure Growth in Battery Cells Using Indirect MRI. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113 (39), 10779–10784. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1607903113.

Operando NMR Characterization of Cycled and Calendar Aged Si Anodes

Replacing graphite anodes with Si anodes can greatly increase the capacity of current Li-ion batteries. Detailed characterization of Si lithiation reactions, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, and reversibility are therefore active areas of research. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is useful for characterizing different local environments within Si anodes as well as differentiating surface and bulk environments. Furthermore, non-invasive and non-destructive NMR methods can reveal metastable LixSi phases or SEI species forming on (dis)charge that may be too reactive to detect via ex situ methods. Here, we use an in situ and in operando NMR methodology to characterize full pouch cells comprising of Si anodes and NMC cathodes. We can observe changes in the relative amounts of Li in different environments within the same Si anode before/during/after charge & discharge and with various amounts of cycling or calendar aging using in situ 7Li NMR. The pouch cells used in our in situ NMR study are comparable to pouch cells made using mid- to large-scale fabrication methods as opposed to laboratory scale; in other words, challenges of cell-to-cell variability are minimized. We hypothesize “trapped” lithiated phases formed in the Si anode no longer contribute to electrochemical cycling and thus limit capacity in subsequent cycles/aging. We also characterized the SEI/surface species in situ with aging via 13C NMR measurements, identifying reactions of lithium silicides with electrolyte solvents and their subsequent decomposition.

NMR Spectroscopic Investigations of the Performance Limiting Mechanisms of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

During the past decades, the development of alternative energy sources has become increasingly important as the growing consumption of non-regenerative fossil energy poses a threat to the environment. Hence, developing of next-generation batteries featuring high capacity, reduced costs and improved safety, such as in lithium-sulfur batteries, is of utmost importance. The benefits of lithium-sulfur batteries have led to widespread efforts to understand the fundamentals of the sulfur redox chemistry that drives their operation, as capacity fade has been observed in almost all Li-S batteries.[1] Therefore, the involved local structural changes that correlate with the (electro)chemical processes need to be unveiled during the operation of Li-S batteries, suitably by in situ and in operando methods. This presentation will demonstrate the development and application of one such (operando) technique: nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopic measurements allow the probing of the structural changes in a battery during electrochemical cycling. In particular, the application of a non-invasive experimental set-up, which can follow the reaction inside the battery in operando is highly desirable as it provides real-time structural information compared to ex situ analysis.[2] Lithium-sulfur batteries contain various NMR-active nuclear isotopes, like 7Li, 6Li and 33S, which allow the following of the chemical reactions during the charge-discharge process. This includes the transition between elemental sulfur and polysulfides on the cathode side, the formation of the solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) and the metal plating and stripping on the anode side. Herein, we use for the first time a combination of lithium and sulfur in operando NMR spectroscopy to reveal a fundamental understanding of the reaction pathway of lithium-sulfur batteries during the cycling process.Lithium NMR spectroscopy is a powerful technique to apply to batteries, as demonstrated by many previous investigations on different lithium battery systems, since it enables the detection of the chemical environments of lithium species during electrochemical cycling and parasitic reactions in the cell.[3] The great advantage of in operando 7Li NMR spectroscopy is that the 7Li signals of the lithium anode and the deposited metal differ due to the bulk magnetic susceptibility effects and the surface area, bringing the skin depth effect into play. Thus, this method enables a time-resolved and quantitative evaluation of the electrochemical metal deposition during electrochemical cycling. Therefore, it is possible to investigate a critical problem that reduces the cell performance – the formation of lithium dendrites. This lithium deposition is particularly problematic if it occurs uncontrolled and inhomogeneous and the exact mechanism of nucleation and propagation of dendrites is not yet fully understood.[4] The developed technique helps to understand this deposition to improve the safety during cycling. The interpretation of the electrolyte signal in the in operando 7Li spectra is much more difficult because of the overlapping signals. Therefore, in situ 33S and 6Li NMR spectroscopy supports the identification and quantification of (poly-)sulfides during the charge-discharge-process. 33S NMR experiments are rarely reported since 33S is a quadrupolar nucleus characterized by a low natural abundance and magnetogyric ratio, resulting in a very low receptivity. Nevertheless, the developed 33S NMR technique allows the detection of the formation Li2S under in operando conditions.[5] Additional in operando 6Li NMR experiments allow to follow the (poly-)sulfide formation as the spectra yield much sharper lines in asymmetric lithium environments in comparison to 7Li NMR experiments.[6] Thus, these techniques provide complementary results to the 7Li NMR spectroscopic studies and help to elucidate the sulfur redox mechanism in lithium-sulfur batteries.Our developed in situ NMR spectroscopic set-up is a powerful analytical method since real-time qualitative and quantitative detection of different sulfur and lithium species is crucial for understanding the electrochemical process in sulfur batteries. The first time, a combination of in operando lithium and sulfur NMR spectroscopy is presented, providing new insights at the molecular level that are essential for accelerating the development of lithium-sulfur battery technologies.[1] H. Wang, N. Sa, et al., The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2017, 121, 6011–6017.[2] J. B. Richter, et al., Chemical Communications 2019, 55, 6042–6045.[3] R. Bhattacharyya, et al., Nat Mater 2010, 9, 504–510.[4] A. B. Gunnarsdóttir, et al., J Mater Chem A Mater 2020, 8, 14975–14992.[5] R. Musio, in Annu Rep NMR Spectrosc, 2006, pp. 1–88.[6] L. A. Huff, et al., Surf Sci 2015, 631, 295–300.

Associative pyridinium electrolytes for air-tolerant redox flow batteries

Pyridinium electrolytes are promising candidates for flow-battery-based energy storage1–4. However, the mechanisms underlying both their charge–discharge processes and overall cycling stability remain poorly understood. Here we probe the redox behaviour of pyridinium electrolytes under representative flow battery conditions, offering insights into air tolerance of batteries containing these electrolytes while providing a universal physico-chemical descriptor of their reversibility. Leveraging a synthetic library of extended bispyridinium compounds, we track their performance over a wide range of potentials and identify the singlet–triplet free energy gap as a descriptor that successfully predicts the onset of previously unidentified capacity fade mechanisms. Using coupled operando nuclear magnetic resonance and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies5,6, we explain the redox behaviour of these electrolytes and determine the presence of two distinct regimes (narrow and wide energy gaps) of electrochemical performance. In both regimes, we tie capacity fade to the formation of free radical species, and further show that π-dimerization plays a decisive role in suppressing reactivity between these radicals and trace impurities such as dissolved oxygen. Our findings stand in direct contrast to prevailing views surrounding the role of π-dimers in redox flow batteries1,4,7–11 and enable us to efficiently mitigate capacity fade from oxygen even on prolonged (days) exposure to air. These insights pave the way to new electrolyte systems, in which reactivity of reduced species is controlled by their propensity for intra- and intermolecular pairing of free radicals, enabling operation in air.

Operando nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: Detection of the onset of metallic lithium deposition on graphite at low temperature and fast charge in a full Li-ion battery

Lithium-ion batteries are at the core of the democratisation of electric transportation and portative electronic devices. However, fast and/or low temperature charge induce performance loss, mainly through lithium plating, a degrading mechanism. In this report, 7Li operando Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy is used to detect the onset of metastable lithium deposits in an NMC622/graphite cell at 0 °C and fast charge. An operando setup, compatible with low temperatures, was developed with special attention to the pressure applied on the electrodes/separator stack and noise reduction to enable early detection and good time-resolution. Direct detection of metallic lithium enables drawing correlations between lithium plating and electrochemical data.

Operando NMR electrochemical gating studies of ion dynamics in PEDOT:PSS

Although organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors are widely proposed for use in bioelectronics, energy generation/storage and neuromorphic computing, our fundamental understanding of the charge-compensating interactions between the ionic and electronic carriers and the dynamics of ions remains poor, particularly for hydrated devices and on electrochemical cycling. Here we show that operando 23Na and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can quantify cation and water movement during the doping/dedoping of films comprising the widely used mixed conductor poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). A distinct 23Na quadrupolar splitting is observed due to the partial ordering of the PSS chains within the PEDOT:PSS-rich domains, with respect to the substrate. Operando 23Na NMR studies reveal a close-to-linear correlation between the quadrupolar splitting and the charge stored, which is quantitatively explained by a model in which the holes on the PEDOT backbone are bound to the PSS SO3- groups; an increase in hole concentration during doping inversely correlates with the number of Na+ ions bound to the PSS chains within the PEDOT-rich ordered domains, leading to a decrease in ions within the ordered regions and a decrease in quadrupolar splitting. The Na+-to-electron coupling efficiency, measured via 23Na NMR intensity changes, is close to 100% when using a 1 M NaCl electrolyte. Operando 1H NMR spectroscopy confirms that the Na+ ions injected into/extracted from the wet films are hydrated. These findings shed light on the working principles of organic mixed conductors and demonstrate the utility of operando NMR spectroscopy in revealing structure-property relationships in electroactive polymers.

Understanding the failure process of sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium batteries via operando nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The performance of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) is affected by the presence of electrochemically inactive (i.e., electronically and/or ionically disconnected) lithium metal and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), which are jointly termed inactive lithium. However, the differentiation and quantification of inactive lithium during cycling are challenging, and their lack limits the fundamental understanding of SSLMBs failure mechanisms. To shed some light on these crucial aspects, here, we propose operando nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy measurements for real-time quantification and evolution-tracking of inactive lithium formed in SSLMBs. In particular, we examine four different sulfide-based solid electrolytes, namely, Li10GeP2S12, Li9.54Si1.74P1.44S11.7Cl0.3, Li6PS5Cl and Li7P3S11. We found that the chemistry of the solid electrolyte influences the activity of lithium. Furthermore, we demonstrate that electronically disconnected lithium metal is mainly found in the interior of solid electrolytes, and ionically disconnected lithium metal is found at the negative electrode surface. Moreover, by monitoring the Li NMR signal during cell calendar ageing, we prove the faster corrosion rate of mossy/dendritic lithium than flat/homogeneous lithium in SSLMBs.

Fluorinated ether decomposition in localized high concentration electrolytes

Localized high concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) are a promising class of battery materials to enable stable cycling of the lithium metal anode. Here, we report the use of operando nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to observe electrolyte decomposition during Li stripping/plating and identify the influence of individual components in LHCEs on Li metal battery performance. Data from operando19F solution NMR indicates that both bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI−) salt and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether (BTFE) diluent molecules play a key role in solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. Three-electrode electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of commercial pouch cells also shows differences in interfacial resistances between LHCE and standard high concentration electrolytes (HCEs) that may be explained by incorporation of BTFE and BTFE reaction products into the SEI. Based on solid-state NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic characterization, we find that BTFE diluents decompose to form CF2- and CF3-containing fragments within a LiF-rich SEI deposited on the anode surface. The CEI on the cathode (here, LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2) side of the battery also contains higher quantities of LiF and trapped LiFSI after cycling in the LHCE compared to a HCE that are attributed to diluent decomposition and correlated with lower impedance at the cathode. Overall, this work provides a new framework to consider highly fluorinated ether molecules—instead of functioning purely as diluting agents in LHCEs, these fluorinated ethers exhibit tunable interfacial reactivity that can be leveraged to control Li deposition behavior.

Transfer Hydrogenation with a Carbon‐Nitride‐Supported Palladium Single‐Atom Photocatalyst and Water as a Proton Source

AbstractSolar‐driven transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds has received considerable attention in the research area of sustainable organic synthesis; however, water, the ultimate green source of hydrogen, has rarely been investigated due to the high barrier associated with splitting of water molecules. We report a carbon‐nitride‐supported palladium single‐atom heterogeneous catalyst with unparalleled performance in photocatalytic water‐donating transfer hydrogenation compared to its nanoparticle counterparts. Isotopic‐labeling experiments and operando nuclear magnetic resonance measurements confirm the direct hydrogenation mechanism using in situ‐generated protons from water splitting under visible‐light irradiation. Density functional theory calculations attribute the high activity to lower barriers for hydrogenation, facilitated desorption of ethylbenzene, and facile hydrogen replenishment from water on the atomic palladium sites.

Transfer Hydrogenation with a Carbon-Nitride-Supported Palladium Single-Atom Photocatalyst and Water as a Proton Source.

Solar-driven transfer hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds has received considerable attention in the research area of sustainable organic synthesis; however, water, the ultimate green source of hydrogen, has rarely been investigated due to the high barrier associated with splitting of water molecules. We report a carbon-nitride-supported palladium single-atom heterogeneous catalyst with unparalleled performance in photocatalytic water-donating transfer hydrogenation compared to its nanoparticle counterparts. Isotopic-labeling experiments and operando nuclear magnetic resonance measurements confirm the direct hydrogenation mechanism using in situ-generated protons from water splitting under visible-light irradiation. Density functional theory calculations attribute the high activity to lower barriers for hydrogenation, facilitated desorption of ethylbenzene, and facile hydrogen replenishment from water on the atomic palladium sites.

Longitudinal Relaxation (T 1) of Methane/Hydrogen Mixtures for Operando Characterization of Gas-Phase Reactions.

Catalytic hydrogenation reactions are important in a modern hydrogen-based society. To optimize these gas-phase reactions, a deep understanding of heat, mass, and momentum transfer inside chemical reactors is required. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements can be used to obtain spatially resolved values of temperature, gas composition, and velocity in the usually opaque catalytic macrostructures. For this, the desired values are calculated from measured NMR parameters like signal amplitude, T 1, or T 2. However, information on how to calculate target values from these NMR parameters in gases is scarce, especially for mixtures of gases. To enable detailed NMR studies of hydrogenation reactions, we investigated the T 1 relaxation of methane and hydrogen, which are two gases commonly present in hydrogenation reactions. To achieve industrially relevant conditions, the temperatures are varied from 290 to 600 K and the pressure from 1 bara to 5 bara, using different mixtures of methane and hydrogen. The results show that hydrogen, which is usually considered to be nondetectable in standard MRI sequences, can be measured at high concentrations, starting at a pressure of 3 bara even at temperatures above 400 K. In the investigated parameter range, the absolute T 1 values of hydrogen show only small dependence on temperature, pressure, and composition, while T 1 of methane is highly dependent on all three parameters. At a pressure of 5 bara, the measured values of T 1 for methane agree very well with theoretical predictions, so that they can also be used for temperature calculations. Further, it can be shown that the same measurement technique can be used to accurately calculate gas ratios inside each voxel. In conclusion, this study covers important aspects of spatially resolved operando NMR measurements of gas-phase properties during hydrogenation reactions at industrially relevant conditions to help improve chemical processes in the gas phase.

Evidencing active-site transfer in the hetero-structure photo-catalytic processes via NMR molecular probes

Recently metal-support interaction (MSI) has attracted considerable attention in photocatalysis. Some studies emphasize the importance of active sites on photocatalysts; however, there are no reports on site changes under MSI in real reactive conditions. Herein, an operando nuclear magnetic resonance technique was proposed to study such site changes on anatase TiO2 and Pt/TiO2, through a gas-probe method, in CH3OH reforming. The photocatalytic oxidation efficiency of CH3OH by pure TiO2 decreased immensely under extra-gas conditions, while that by Pt/TiO2 was unaffected. The surface of pure TiO2 were occupied by injected gas molecules, making CH3OH inaccessible to active sites. However, in Pt/TiO2, CH3OH adsorption sites changed from TiO2 surface to metal-Pt/TiO2 interface as confirmed by H2 gas-probe experiments. This study provides a deeper understanding of active sites transfer by MSI and leverages the gas-probe method for its detection to guide the development of technology to test active-site positions in heterogeneous catalysts.

Reversible lithium insertion and conversion process of amorphous VS4 revealed by operando electrochemical NMR spectroscopy

Due to the high theoretical capacity, VS4 is a promising electrode material for next-generation rechargeable batteries. In this study, the lithium insertion and conversion process of amorphous VS4 was investigated using operando electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Amorphous VS4 has a chain-like structure similar to that of crystalline VS4. The chain structure was drastically changed to the [VS4]3− tetrahedral structure by lithium insertion up to the Li3VS4 composition. The lithium insertion into the [VS4]3−-based structure proceeded further up to the Li6VS4 composition, with charge compensation by the reduction of the V valency. Finally, the conversion reaction from amorphous Li6VS4 to metallic V and 4Li2S was observed. The structural reversibility of amorphous VS4 was confirmed after the delithiation. It is worth mentioning that the delithiation process from the conversion products was different from the lithiation, resulting in a relatively large voltage hysteresis. Broadly, this study demonstrates that the operando electrochemical NMR technique is a useful tool for investigating the complex reaction system of non-crystalline battery materials.

Quantitatively analyzing the failure processes of rechargeable Li metal batteries.

Practical use of lithium (Li) metal for high–energy density lithium metal batteries has been prevented by the continuous formation of Li dendrites, electrochemically isolated Li metal, and the irreversible formation of solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs). Differentiating and quantifying these inactive Li species are key to understand the failure mode. Here, using operando nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy together with ex situ titration gas chromatography (TGC) and mass spectrometry titration (MST) techniques, we established a solid foundation for quantifying the evolution of dead Li metal and SEI separately. The existence of LiH is identified, which causes deviation in the quantification results of dead Li metal obtained by these three techniques. The formation of inactive Li under various operating conditions has been studied quantitatively, which revealed a general “two-stage” failure process for the Li metal. The combined techniques presented here establish a benchmark to unravel the complex failure mechanism of Li metal.