Review of solar energetic particle models

Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events are interesting from a scientific perspective as they are the product of a broad set of physical processes from the corona out through the extent of the heliosphere, and provide insight into processes of particle acceleration and transport that are widely applicable in astrophysics. From the operations perspective, SEP events pose a radiation hazard for aviation, electronics in space, and human space exploration, in particular for missions outside of the Earth’s protective magnetosphere including to the Moon and Mars. Thus, it is critical to improve the scientific understanding of SEP events and use this understanding to develop and improve SEP forecasting capabilities to support operations. Many SEP models exist or are in development using a wide variety of approaches and with differing goals. These include computationally intensive physics-based models, fast and light empirical models, machine learning-based models, and mixed-model approaches. The aim of this paper is to summarize all of the SEP models currently developed in the scientific community, including a description of model approach, inputs and outputs, free parameters, and any published validations or comparisons with data.</p

Water-assisted generation of catalytic interface: The case of interfacial Pt-FeOₓ(OH)ᵧ sites active in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation

The surface of supported heterogeneous catalysts often contains adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups even when water is not directly added to the reaction stream. Nonetheless, the reactivity of adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups is rarely considered. We demonstrate that water and hydroxyl groups can not only directly participate in the catalytic oxidation processes but are also able to generate and stabilize the catalytically active metal-oxide interface. We show that the reduction of Pt-Fe-supported catalysts with hydrogen in the presence of adsorbed water or steam allows for achieving one of the highest preferential carbon monoxide oxidation activities at ambient temperature. These conditions create active iron-associated hydroxyl groups next to platinum nanoparticles with enhanced reactivity towards carbon monoxide oxidation. Density functional theory calculations suggest that hydroxylation of oxidic iron species stabilizes the FeOx(OH)y/Pt interface, via strong metal-support interaction, which is confirmed by chemisorption measurements. Kinetic experiments, including those with 18O-labeled water, in combination with operando infrared spectroscopy, show that water and hydroxyl groups directly participate in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation. A quantitative correlation between the catalytic activity of Pt-FeOx(OH)y/γ-Al2O3 catalysts and the Fe2+ concentration, obtained using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, shows that the number of active Fe2+ sites and the carbon monoxide oxidation rate per active site can be significantly increased by water-assisted pretreatment with hydrogen. This work provides a new example of positive role of strong metal-support interaction for the design of more active catalysts.ISSN:0021-9517ISSN:1090-269

Water-assisted generation of catalytic interface: The case of interfacial Pt-FeOx(OH)y sites active in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation

The surface of supported heterogeneous catalysts often contains adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups even when water is not directly added to the reaction stream. Nonetheless, the reactivity of adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups is rarely considered. We demonstrate that water and hydroxyl groups can not only directly participate in the catalytic oxidation processes but are also able to generate and stabilize the catalytically active metal-oxide interface. We show that the reduction of Pt-Fe-supported catalysts with hydrogen in the presence of adsorbed water or steam allows for achieving one of the highest preferential carbon monoxide oxidation activities at ambient temperature. These conditions create active iron-associated hydroxyl groups next to platinum nanoparticles with enhanced reactivity towards carbon mon-oxide oxidation. Density functional theory calculations suggest that hydroxylation of oxidic iron species stabilizes the FeOx(OH)y/Pt interface, via strong metal-support interaction, which is confirmed by chemisorption measurements. Kinetic experiments, including those with 18O-labeled water, in combination with operando infrared spectroscopy, show that water and hydroxyl groups directly participate in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation. A quantitative correlation between the catalytic activity of Pt-FeOx(OH)y/γ-Al2O3 catalysts and the Fe2+ concentration, obtained using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, shows that the number of active Fe2+ sites and the carbon monoxide oxidation rate per active site can be significantly increased by water-assisted pretreatment with hydrogen. This work provides a new example of positive role of strong metal-support interaction for the design of more active catalysts

Pt-Fe+2O sites directly responsible for ambient temperature catalytic oxidation activity as discovered by operando XAS

Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) identified that the concentration of Fe2+ species in the working state-of-the-art Pt-FeOx catalysts quantitatively correlates to their preferential carbon monoxide oxidation (PROX) steady-state reaction rate at ambient temperature. Deactivation of such catalysts with time on stream originates from irreversible oxidation of active Fe2+ sites. The active Fe2+ species are presumably Fe+2O-2 clusters in contact with platinum nanoparticles; they coexist with spectator trivalent oxidic iron (Fe3+) and metallic iron (Fe0) partially alloyed with platinum. Concentration of active sites and, therefore, the catalyst activity strongly depends on the pretreatment conditions. Fe2+ is the resting state of the active sites in the PROX cycle

Stable and efficient Ir nanoshells for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions

We report the characterization and applications of core-shell Cu-Ir nanocatalysts for fuel cells. Core-shell Cu-Ir particles with tunable thickness of Ir can be oxidized to remove the Cu core and obtain Ir shells. The thickness of the Ir shells determines the stability and optimization of the precious metals. We showed with in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy the remarkable stability of the Ir shells at elevated temperatures under oxidative and reductive environments. In situ microscopy and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed that traces of remaining copper could be detected in the Ir shells. Electrochemical measurements for oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reactions show promising activity and stability compared to a commercial catalyst. Thin Ir shells, with high surface area per gram of Ir, were more active but less stable than thicker shells. In contrast, thicker Ir shells were more stable and had excellent electrochemical properties in both aqueous and alkaline environments. Hence, Ir nanoshells appear as promising candidates to reduce the cost of catalysis while improving chemical performance in fuel cells

Influence of alloying and surface overcoating engineering on the electrochemical properties of carbon-supported PtCu nanocrystals

Designing nanostructured Pt-based materials with unique properties as electrocatalyst attracts great research interests to achieve clean and sustainable energy. Herein, we investigate nanoscale engineering of carbon-supported PtCu nanocrystals (NCs) through tailoring their electronic and geometry properties by means of alloying and surface overcoating. Alloying Pt with Cu enhances the catalytic efficiencies for the acidic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Subsequent surface overcoating of PtCu nanostructures with carbon nanoshells endows a decreased mass activity towards the HER catalysis compared to the uncoated counterparts, this can be mainly associated with annealing-induced sintering of small metal nanoparticles and the surface site-blockage of metal active sites. These results indicate that breaking activity-stability trade-off remains to be challenging for efficient HER catalysis on carbon-supported PtCu nanostructures. Our case study on the limitations of fabricating PtCu nanodendrites with varied loadings of carbon nanoshells on the surface demonstrates the necessity to explore the design of advanced and high-performing metal-based catalysts.ISSN:0925-8388ISSN:1873-466

Water-assisted generation of catalytic interface: The case of interfacial Pt-FeO_x(OH)_y sites active in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation

The surface of supported heterogeneous catalysts often contains adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups even when water is not directly added to the reaction stream. Nonetheless, the reactivity of adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups is rarely considered. We demonstrate that water and hydroxyl groups can not only directly participate in the catalytic oxidation processes but are also able to generate and stabilize the catalytically active metal-oxide interface. We show that the reduction of Pt-Fe-supported catalysts with hydrogen in the presence of adsorbed water or steam allows for achieving one of the highest preferential carbon monoxide oxidation activities at ambient temperature. These conditions create active iron-associated hydroxyl groups next to platinum nanoparticles with enhanced reactivity towards carbon monoxide oxidation. Density functional theory calculations suggest that hydroxylation of oxidic iron species stabilizes the FeOx(OH)y/Pt interface, via strong metal-support interaction, which is confirmed by chemisorption measurements. Kinetic experiments, including those with 18O-labeled water, in combination with operando infrared spectroscopy, show that water and hydroxyl groups directly participate in preferential carbon monoxide oxidation. A quantitative correlation between the catalytic activity of Pt-FeOx(OH)y/γ-Al2O3 catalysts and the Fe2+ concentration, obtained using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, shows that the number of active Fe2+ sites and the carbon monoxide oxidation rate per active site can be significantly increased by water-assisted pretreatment with hydrogen. This work provides a new example of positive role of strong metal-support interaction for the design of more active catalysts.Numerical Analysi

Synthesis and Characterization of Stable Cu-Pt Nanoparticles under Reductive and Oxidative Conditions

We report a synthesis method for highly monodisperse Cu-Pt alloy nanospheres. Small and large Cu-Pt particles with a Cu:Pt ratio of 1:1 can be obtained through colloidal synthesis at 300 °C. The fresh particles have a Pt-rich surface and a Cu-rich core and can be converted into an intermetallic phase after annealing at 800 °C under H2. First, we demonstrated the stability of fresh particles under redox conditions at 400 °C, as the Pt-rich surface prevents substantial oxidation of Cu. Then, a combination of in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and CO oxidation measurements of the intermetallic CuPt phase before and after redox treatments at 800 °C showed promising activity and stability for CO oxidation. Full oxidation of Cu was prevented after exposure to O2 at 800 °C. The activity and structure of the particles was only slightly changed after exposure to O2 at 800 °C and were recovered after re-reduction at 800 °C. Additionally, the intermetallic CuPt phase showed enhanced catalytic properties compared to the fresh particles with a Pt-rich surface or pure Pt particles of the same size. Thus, the incorporation of Pt with Cu does not lead to a rapid deactivation and degradation of the material, as seen with other bimetallic systems. This work provides a synthesis route to control the design of Cu-Pt nanostructures and underlines the promising properties of these alloys (intermetallic and non-intermetallic) for heterogeneous catalysis

Review of Solar Energetic Particle Models

Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) events are interesting from a scientific perspective as they are the product of a broad set of physical processes from the corona out through the extent of the heliosphere, and provide insight into processes of particle acceleration and transport that are widely applicable in astrophysics. From the operations perspective, SEP events pose a radiation hazard for aviation, electronics in space, and human space exploration, in particular for missions outside of the Earth’s protective magnetosphere including to the Moon and Mars. Thus, it is critical to imific understanding of SEP events and use this understanding to develop and improve SEP forecasting capabilities to support operations. Many SEP models exist or are in development using a wide variety of approaches and with differing goals. These include computationally intensive physics-based models, fast and light empirical models, machine learning-based models, and mixed-model approaches. The aim of this paper is to summarize all of the SEP models currently developed in the scientific community, including a description of model approach, inputs and outputs, free parameters, and any published validations or comparisons with data