Near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (nAP-XPS) provides an opportunity to study gas-solid interactions pertinent to various electrochemical reactions. Information about evolution of catalyst surface under relevant conditions can then be used to optimize the performance of these materials. This talk will discuss challenges associated with analysis of nAP-XPS data from adsorption and desorption studies of heterogeneous materials. These include but are not limited to i) presence of different types of potential sites, ii) the multitude of competitive binding energy shifts that could be happening upon adsorption on these various sites, and iii) subtle changes in the spectra associated with adsorption/desorption due to low number of potential sites for adsorption. Novel approaches to overcome some of these challenges will be discussed with examples of O<sub>2</sub> adosrption on N-containing catalysts and supports. Our analysis approach highlights differences between materials with varied chemistry and morphology, contrasting their adsoprion and desorption behaviour and touching upon competitive adosrption implications in the presence of more than one molecular probe.

Gas-solid interactions by near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: Challenges and approaches in characterization of complex electrocatalytic materials

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.