Hydrogen spillover

Figure 1: Setup of metal catalyst on a support, the support of which can absorb hydrogen atoms. The receptor represents other optional hydrogen deficient compounds, such as graphene in the context of metal catalysis.

In heterogeneous catalysis, hydrogen molecules can be adsorbed and dissociated by the metal catalyst. The migration of hydrogen atoms from the metal catalyst onto the nonmetal support or adsorbate comprise the spillover phenomenon.[1] Spillover, generally, is the transport of a species adsorbed or formed on a surface onto another surface.[2] Hydrogen spillover can be characterized by three major steps, the first being where molecular hydrogen is split via dissociative chemisorption into its constitutive atoms on a transition metal catalyst surface, followed by migration from the catalyst to the substrate, culminating in their diffusion throughout the substrate surfaces and/or in the bulk materials.[3]

Mechanism and Trends

Mechanism

The mechanism behind hydrogen spillover has been long disputed.[4] Khoobiar’s work in 1964 marks the nascency of the spillover concept.[2] In his findings, yellow WO3 can be reduced by H2 to a blue compound with the use of a platinum catalyst.[2] Since the phenomenon was not found when using Al2O3 as the catalyst, he claimed that the dissociative chemisorption of H2 molecules on the Pt particles created hydrogen atoms.[2] The hydrogen atoms migrated from the Pt surface to the WO3 particles and reduced them to blue WO3-x particles.[2]

Essentially, hydrogen atoms would migrate from a hydrogen-rich to a hydrogen-poor surface.[2] However, these atoms are usually not generated on the surface of a support metal.[2] Hence, the two conditions for hydrogen spillover include the creation of hydrogen atoms (requires catalysts capable of dissociating and absorbing hydrogen) and the ability of hydrogen atoms to be transported.

Recent attempts to characterize the mechanism of hydrogen spillover have seen the use of radiation photoelectron spectroscopy to analyze the shift between different oxidation states of the support (commonly metal oxides) via their respective emission spectra.[5] In general, the mechanism is thought to proceed via the transfer of neutral hydrogen atoms to the support upon overcoming an activation energy barrier.[5] This has even been observed at temperatures as low as 180K in metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts laced with Palladium nanoparticles (PdnP’s).[4] Upon transfer to the support, they assume the role of Lewis bases where they donate electrons and reversibly reduce the sorbent.[4] Additionally, the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene show that hydroxyl groups seem to favor the migration of spillover hydrogen, whereas sodium cations may trap the spillover hydrogen and are detrimental to hydrogenation pathway.[6]

Figure 2: Dissociative chemisorption of H2 on metal catalysts. Hydrogen atoms move from a hydrogen-rich to a hydrogen-poor surface.

Trends

Hydrogen spillover increases with adsorption temperature and metal dispersion.[7] A correlation has been reported between available surface area and the capacity for hydrogen storage. For PdnP-containing MOFs, in the presence of saturated metal particles, the capacity for hydrogen spillover only relied on the sorbent’s surface area and pore size.[5] On catalysts such as platinum or nickel, atomic hydrogen can be generated at a high frequency.[7] Through surface diffusion, multi-functional transport of hydrogen atoms can enhance a reaction and even regenerate a catalyst.[7] However, problems present in the strength of the hydrogen-support bond; too strong of an interaction would hinder its extraction via reverse spillover and nullify its function as a fuel cell.[5] Conversely, too weak a bond and the hydrogens are easily lost to the environment.[4]

Figure 3: Hydrogen storage in carbon materials through spillover techniques. In this case, the receptor is a carbon nanotube. Note that while physical mixtures of a primary hydrogen spillover source and a secondary receptor demonstrate moderate storage capacity, adding a bridge to improve the contact between the support metal and the receptor serves to double or triple hydrogen storage capacity on the receptor.

Applications

With burgeoning interest in alternative energy sources, the prospect of hydrogen’s role as a fuel has become a major driving force for the optimization of storage methods, particularly at ambient temperatures where their application would be more practical for common use.[4][8] Hydrogen spillover has emerged as a possible technique for achieving high-density hydrogen storage at near-ambient conditions in lightweight, solid-state materials as adsorbents.[3][9] Hydrogen storage in carbon materials can be significantly enhanced by spillover techniques.[10][11] Current trends include the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and other porous materials with high surface area for such storage, including but not exclusive to nanocarbons (e.g. graphene, carbon nanotubes),[8][9] zeolites, and nanostructured materials.[9] Hydrogen atom diffusion on nanostructured graphitic carbon materials is primarily governed by physisorption of hydrogen atoms.[3] Singled-walled nanotubes and multi-walled nanotubes are the best acceptor of spilt over hydrogen atoms.[9]

Another recent study has shown that the synthesis of methanol from both CO and CO2 over Cu/ZrO2 involves the spillover of H atoms formed on Cu to the surface of ZrO2.[12] The atomic H then participates in the hydrogenation of carbon-containing species to methanol.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Gardes, G.E.E., Pajonk, G. M., and S.J. Teichner (1974). “Catalytic Demonstration of Hydrogen Spillover from Nickel-Alumina Catalyst to Alumina.” J. Catal. 33, 145-148.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R. Prins: Hydrogen Spillover. Facts and Fiction. In: Chemical Reviews. 112, 2012, S. 2714, doi:10.1021/cr200346z.
  3. 1 2 3 Hansong Cheng, Liang Chen, Alan C. Cooper, Xianwei Sha, Guido P. Pez: Hydrogen spillover in the context of hydrogen storage using solid-state materials. In: Energy & Environmental Science. 1, 2008, S. 338, doi:10.1039/B807618A.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Sculley, J., Yuan, D., Zhou, H. (2011). “The current status of hydrogen storage in metal–organic frameworks—updated”. Energy Environ. Sci. 4, 2721-2735.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Lykhach, Y., Staudt, T., Vorohkta, M., Skala, T. Johanek, V., Prince, KC., Matolin, V., Libuda, J. (2012). “Hydrogen spillover monitored by resonant photoemission spectroscopy”. J. Catal. 285, 6-9. 12
  6. ↑ Wang, A., Li, X., et al. (2004). “Hydrodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene Over Proton-Exchanged Siliceous MCM-41 Supported Bimetallic Sulfides”. Dalian University of Technology, China
  7. 1 2 3 Andrew, M., and R. Kramer (1979). “Adsorption of Atomic Hydrogen on Alumina by Hydrogen Spillover.” J. Catal. 58, 287-295.
  8. 1 2 Pevzner, S., Pri-Bar, I., Lutzky, I., Ben-Yehuda, E., Ruse, E., Regev, O. (2014). “Carbon Allotropes Accelerate Hydrogenation via Spillover Mechanism”. J. Phys. Chem. C. 118, 27164–27169.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Lueking, A. D., & Yang, R. T. (2004). Hydrogen spillover to enhance hydrogen storage: study of the effect of carbon physicochemical properties. Applied Catalysis A: General, 265, 2.)
  10. ↑ Wang, L., & Yang, R. T. (2008). New sorbents for hydrogen storage by hydrogen spillover - a review. Energy & Environmental Science, 1, 2, 268-279
  11. ↑ Lachawiec, A. J. J., Qi, G., & Yang, R. T. (2005). Hydrogen storage in nanostructured carbons by spillover: bridge-building enhancement. Langmuir : the Acs Journal of Surfaces and Colloids, 21, 24, 11418-24.
  12. 1 2 Jung, K-D. & Bell, A. T. (2000). “Role of hydrogen spillover in methanol synthesis over Cu/ZrO2”. J. Catal. 193, 207–223
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