Density functional theory study of the interaction of H2O, CO2 and CO with the ZrO2 (111), Ni/ZrO2 (111), YSZ (111) and Ni/YSZ (111) surfaces

Cadi-Essadek, Abdelaziz, Roldan Martinez, Alberto ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0353-9004 and De Leeuw, Nora ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8271-0545 2016. Density functional theory study of the interaction of H2O, CO2 and CO with the ZrO2 (111), Ni/ZrO2 (111), YSZ (111) and Ni/YSZ (111) surfaces. Surface Science 653 , pp. 153-162. 10.1016/j.susc.2016.06.008

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Abstract

The triple phase boundary (TPB),where the gas phase, Ni particles and the yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) surface meet, plays a significant role in the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Indeed, the key reactions take place at the TPB, where molecules such as H2O, CO2 and CO interact and react. We have systematically studied the interaction of H2O, CO2 and CO with the dominant surfaces of four materials that are relevant to SOFC, i.e. ZrO2(111), Ni/ZrO2(111), YSZ(111) and Ni/YSZ(111) of cubic ZrO2 stabilized with 9% of yttria (Y2O3). The study employed spin polarized density functional theory (DFT), taking into account the long-range dispersion forces.We have investigated up to five initial adsorption sites for the three molecules and have identified the geometries and electronic structures of the most stable adsorption configurations.We have also analysed the vibrational modes of the three molecules in the gas phase and compared them with the adsorbed molecules. A decrease of the wavenumbers of the vibrational modes for the three adsorbed molecules was observed, confirming the influence of the surface on the molecules' intra-molecular bonds. These results are in line with the important role of Ni in this system, in particular for the CO adsorption and activation.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Chemistry Advanced Research Computing @ Cardiff (ARCCA)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Triple phase boundary Yttria-stabilized zirconia Molecule-surface interaction Fuel cell Supported nanoparticles Surface science
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0039-6028
Funders:	EPSRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 August 2016
Date of Acceptance:	21 June 2016
Last Modified:	14 May 2023 02:59
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/93696

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