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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
Published on: April 12, 2019
Electronic structure models of oxygen adsorption at the solvated, electrified Pt(111) interface
Kuan-Yu Yeh1, Sally A Wasileski, Michael J Janik
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 104 Fenske Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Oxygen adsorption on platinum is key for the oxygen reduction reaction. Using advanced computational methods, we found oxygen readily replaces water on the Pt(111) surface, improving binding with higher electrode potentials.
Area of Science:
- Computational Chemistry
- Surface Science
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Oxygen adsorption is the initial step in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
- Understanding interfacial water structure and electrode potential effects on oxygen adsorption to platinum is crucial for ORR catalysis.
- Pt(111) is a model surface for studying ORR at the electrode-electrolyte interface.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influences of interfacial water structure and electrode potential on oxygen adsorption to the Pt(111) surface.
- To compare two distinct methods for modeling electrochemical interfaces: an applied homogeneous electric field and the double-reference method.
- To determine the favorability of molecular oxygen replacing adsorbed water at the Pt(111) surface under varying electrode potentials.
Main Methods:
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed.
- Two models for interface electrification were utilized: an applied homogeneous electric field and the double-reference method.
- Free energy changes for molecular oxygen replacing water were calculated.
Main Results:
- Qualitatively different trends in oxygen adsorption were observed between the two modeling approaches.
- The double-reference method, including solvation effects and direct potential control, indicated O(2) replacement of water is favorable across all studied potentials.
- O(2) binding strength increased with increasing electrode potential in the double-reference model, contrary to the electric field model results.
Conclusions:
- Oxygen replacement of adsorbed water is favorable and becomes stronger with increasing electrode potential.
- The choice of modeling approach significantly impacts the predicted trends of oxygen adsorption.
- Oxygen replacement of adsorbed water is unlikely to be the rate-limiting step for the overall ORR at proton-exchange membrane fuel cell cathodes.
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