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  • Perspective
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Enhancing the connection between computation and experiments in electrocatalysis

Nature Catalysis volume 5, pages 374–381 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Combining computational and experimental methods is a powerful approach to understand the variables that govern catalyst performance and ultimately design improved materials. However, the effectiveness of this approach rests on the strength of the relationships between calculated parameters and experimental measurements. These relationships are complicated by the intricacy and dynamic behaviour of catalytic active sites, and by the non-trivial relationship between calculated reaction energetics and observed rates. In this Perspective, we highlight opportunities to enhance the connection between computation and experiment in electrocatalysis. These include measuring the intrinsic kinetic behaviour of catalysts, creating precise models for the active site and its environment, and forming clear relationships between calculated reaction energetics and observed rates. As experimental and computational methods continue to become more powerful, clear connections between the two will maximize their utility to guide the design of efficient and selective electrocatalysts.

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Fig. 1: Enhancing the connection between computation and experiments in electrocatalysis.
Fig. 2: Intrinsic activity measurements of electrocatalysts.
Fig. 3: Microkinetic modelling of oxygen reduction.
Fig. 4: Understanding hydrogen evolution in alkaline media using computation and experiments.

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Acknowledgements

J.R. acknowledges support from the Welch Foundation through grant no. F-1436. F.A.-P., Z.B. and T.F.J. acknowledge support from the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division, Catalysis Science Program to the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis. C.H. contributed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy under contract DE-AC52-07-NA27344, and was supported by the LLNL-LDRD programme under project no. 22-LW-033. The authors acknowledge P. Christopher and D. E. Resasco for useful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Joaquin Resasco

  2. SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA

    Frank Abild-Pedersen & Thomas F. Jaramillo

  3. Materials Science Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA

    Christopher Hahn

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Zhenan Bao & Thomas F. Jaramillo

  5. Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Marc T. M. Koper

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  1. Joaquin Resasco
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J.R. wrote the article and all the authors contributed to the discussion, reviewing and editing of the manuscript.

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Resasco, J., Abild-Pedersen, F., Hahn, C. et al. Enhancing the connection between computation and experiments in electrocatalysis. Nat Catal 5, 374–381 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-022-00789-0

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