Machine-Learning-Driven High-Entropy Alloy Catalyst Discovery to Circumvent the Scaling Relation for CO2 Reduction ReactionClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Zhi Wen ChenZhi Wen ChenDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, CanadaMore by Zhi Wen Chen
- Zachary GariepyZachary GariepyDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, CanadaMore by Zachary Gariepy
- Lixin ChenLixin ChenDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, CanadaMore by Lixin Chen
- Xue YaoXue YaoDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, CanadaMore by Xue Yao
- Abu AnandAbu AnandDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, CanadaMore by Abu Anand
- Szu-Jia LiuSzu-Jia LiuDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, CanadaMore by Szu-Jia Liu
- Conrard Giresse Tetsassi FeugmoConrard Giresse Tetsassi FeugmoNational Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, CanadaMore by Conrard Giresse Tetsassi Feugmo
- Isaac TamblynIsaac TamblynDepartment of Physics, University of Ottawa, Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, CanadaMore by Isaac Tamblyn
- Chandra Veer Singh*Chandra Veer Singh*Email: [email protected]Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King’s College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, CanadaMore by Chandra Veer Singh
Abstract

To achieve an equitable energy transition toward net-zero 2050 goals, the electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) to chemical feedstocks through utilizing both CO2 and renewable energy is particularly attractive. However, the catalytic activity of CO2RR is limited by the scaling relation of the adsorption energies of intermediates. Circumventing the scaling relation is a potential strategy to achieve a breakthrough in catalytic activity. Herein, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we designed a high-entropy alloy (HEA) system of FeCoNiCuMo with high catalytic activity for CO2RR. Machine learning models were developed by considering 1280 adsorption sites to predict the adsorption energies of COOH*, CO*, and CHO*. The scaling relation between the adsorption energies of COOH*, CO*, and CHO* is circumvented by the rotation of COOH* and CHO* on the designed HEA surface, resulting in the outstanding catalytic activity of CO2RR with the limiting potential of 0.29–0.51 V. This work not only accelerates the development of HEA catalysts but also provides an effective strategy to circumvent the scaling relation.
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