Electronic And Atomic Structure And Dynamics Of Electrode Electrolyte Interfaces By Computer Simulation

When two different substances are joined, material flows across the interface (sometimes imperceptibly almost) until the chemical potentials of the component species are equalized. When the substances are solid or liquid and some of the chemical species are charged, then the interface develops a net electrical polarization due to the formation of an electric double layer. The main goal of this program of study is to give a molecular basis for understanding the structure and dynamics of electrical double layers at charged metal-aqueous electrolyte interface. The aim is to unify current separate descriptions of surface adsorption and solution behavior and, ultimately, to include a detailed treatment of the surface crystalography and electronic properties of the metal.

The research objective of this proposal is the computational modeling of the metal-electrolyte interface purely from first principles. The accurate calculation of the electrostatic potential at electrically biased metal-electrolyte interfaces is a current challenge for periodic "ab-initio" simulations. It is also an essential requisite for predicting the correspondence between the macroscopic voltage and the microscopic interfacial charge distribution in electrochemical fuel cells. This interfacial charge distribution is the result of the chemical bonding between solute and metal atoms, and therefore cannot be accurately calculated with the use of semi-empirical classical force fields. The project aims to study in detail the structure and dynamics of aqueous electrolytes at metallic interfaces taking into account the effect of the electrode potential. Another side of the project is to produce an accurate method to simulate the water/metal interface. While both experimental and theoretical surface scientists have made a lot of progress on the understanding and characterization of both atomistic structures and reactions at the solid/vacuum interface, the theoretical description of electrochemical interfaces is still lacking behind. A reason for this is that a complete and accurate first principles description of both the liquid and the metal interfaces is still computationally too expensive and complex, since their characteristics are governed by the explicit atomic and electronic structure built at the interface as a response to environmental conditions. This project will characterize in detail how different theoretical levels of modeling describer the metal/water interface. In particular the role of van der Waals interactions will be carefully analyzed and prescriptions to perform accurate simulations will be produced.

Atomic-Scale Modelling of Electrochemical Systems A comprehensive overview of atomistic computational electrochemistry, discussing methods, implementation, and state-of-the-art applications in the field The first book to review state-of-the-art computational and theoretical methods for modelling, understanding, and predicting the properties of electrochemical interfaces. This book presents a detailed description of the current methods, their background, limitations, and use for addressing the electrochemical interface and reactions. It also highlights several applications in electrocatalysis and electrochemistry. Atomic-Scale Modelling of Electrochemical Systems discusses different ways of including the electrode potential in the computational setup and fixed potential calculations within the framework of grand canonical density functional theory. It examines classical and quantum mechanical models for the solid-liquid interface and formation of an electrochemical double-layer using molecular dynamics and/or continuum descriptions. A thermodynamic description of the interface and reactions taking place at the interface as a function of the electrode potential is provided, as are novel ways to describe rates of heterogeneous electron transfer, proton-coupled electron transfer, and other electrocatalytic reactions. The book also covers multiscale modelling, where atomic level information is used for predicting experimental observables to enable direct comparison with experiments, to rationalize experimental results, and to predict the following electrochemical performance. Uniquely explains how to understand, predict, and optimize the properties and reactivity of electrochemical interfaces starting from the atomic scale Uses an engaging “tutorial style” presentation, highlighting a solid physicochemical background, computational implementation, and applications for different methods, including merits and limitations Bridges the gap between experimental electrochemistry and computational atomistic modelling Written by a team of experts within the field of computational electrochemistry and the wider computational condensed matter community, this book serves as an introduction to the subject for readers entering the field of atom-level electrochemical modeling, while also serving as an invaluable reference for advanced practitioners already working in the field.

Large scale computer simulations are being performed to study heterogeneous electron transfer processes and related phenomena across the electrode/electrolyte interface. This research introduces microscopic computer simulation methods into the field of electrochemistry, impacting such important technologies as advanced power sources, sensors, displays, corrosion prevention, and electrochemical synthesis. A specific goal is to explicitly characterize the interplay of the solvent reorganization required for the electron transfer event near an electrode surface with chemically reactive (e.g., bond-breaking) processes. Novel "first principles" simulations are being carried out with Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics techniques to treat the electronic structure of the system while computing the nuclear motions of the solvent molecules using no empirical approximations. Newly developed theoretical methods are also being implemented in the simulations which employ quantum path integral approaches. All of these methods are required to fully characterize highly complex condensed matter problems such as heterogeneous electron transfer.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field. The chapters “Assessment of Simple Models for Molecular Simulation of Ethylene Carbonate and Propylene Carbonate as Solvents for Electrolyte Solutions” and “Elucidating Solvation Structures for Rational Design of Multivalent Electrolytes—A Review” are available open access under a CC BY 4.0 License via link.springer.com.

Understanding the fundamental processes taking place at the electrode-electrolyte interface in batteries will play a key role in the development of next generation energy storage technologies. One of the most fundamental aspects of the electrode-electrolyte interface is the electrical double layer (EDL). Given the recent development of high spatial resolution in-situ electrochemical cells for scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), there now exists the possibility that we can directly observe the formation and dynamics of the EDL. In this paper we predict electrolyte structure within the EDL using classical models and atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. The MD simulations show that the classical models fail to accurately reproduce concentration profiles that exist within the electrolyte. It is thus suggested that MD must be used in order to accurately predict STEM images of the electrode-electrolyte interface. Using MD and image simulations together for a high contrast electrolyte (the high atomic number CsCl electrolyte), it is determined that, for a smooth interface, concentration profiles within the EDL should be visible experimentally. When normal experimental parameters such as rough interfaces and low-Z electrolytes (like those used in Li-ion batteries) are considered, observation of the EDL appears to be more difficult.