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Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee

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A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 24742

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Prof. Dr. Eun Duck Park

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Interests: C1 chemistry; methane activation; biomass conversion; CO oxidation; methanation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Won Bae Kim

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea
Interests: electrocatalyst; electrochemical reaction

Prof. Dr. Ji-Wook Jang

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Guest Editor

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan 44919, Korea
Interests: photocatalysts; artificial photosynthesis; solar batteries

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our journal is pleased to publish a Special Issue in honor of Professor Jae Sung Lee. Prof. Lee graduated with a BS in 1975 from Seoul National University, an MS in 1977 from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and received PhD in chemical engineering from Stanford University in 1984. Lee was a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) from 1986 to 2012, and is now a professor at the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, faculty of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea.

Prof. Lee is the author of 410+ peer-reviewed publications and eight books. His work has received 34,000+ citations (15,837 citations since 2017), an h-index of 102 (68 since 2017), and i10-index of 351 (270 since 2017) accessed via Google Scholar. He has written 41 papers with over 200 citations. He holds 100+ Korean and U.S. patents, including CO₂hydrogenation catalysts and photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting. He has served on the editorial board of many international academic journals such as the Journal of Catalysis, Applied Catalysis A, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A, Catalysis Letters, Topics in Catalysis, and ChemCatChem.

Since 1986, he has conducted research on (photo)electrocatalysis for water splitting, and heterogeneous catalysis for CO₂ hydrogenation. He has successfully supervised more than 85 MS and PhD degrees.

In recognition of Prof. Lee’s outstanding research achievements, he has received numerous awards in Korea including the Green Energy Award and Yeosan Catalytic Science Award. He is a full member of the Korean Academy of Engineers.

In honor and recognition of Professor Jae Sung Lee's outstanding career contributions to the fields of heterogeneous catalysis, photo(electro)catalysis and catalytic reaction engineering, this Special Issue of Catalysts welcomes the submission of previously unpublished manuscripts from original work or reviews in these areas. Manuscripts will be published online on an ongoing basis after being processed.

Prof. Dr. Eun Duck Park
Prof. Dr. Won Bae Kim
Prof. Dr. Ji-Wook Jang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

photocatalysis: photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical water splitting, CO₂ reduction, and value-added chemical production
electrocatalysis: electrocatalysts for water splitting, CO₂ reduction, value-added chemical production, and low-temperature fuel cells
heterogenous catalysis: catalytic CO₂ hydrogenation, non-precious metal catalytic materials, C-1 chemistry

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 6222 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

PtCu Nanoparticle Catalyst for Electrocatalytic Glycerol Oxidation: How Does the PtCu Affect to Glycerol Oxidation Reaction Performance by Changing pH Conditions?

by Lee Seul Oh, Jeonghyun Han, Eunho Lim, Won Bae Kim and Hyung Ju Kim

Catalysts 2023, 13(5), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13050892 - 15 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1735

Abstract

In this work, we show that finding and controlling optimum pH environments with Pt-based alloy catalysts can create high catalytic performances for electrocatalytic glycerol oxidation reaction (EGOR). Compared to a Pt/C catalyst, the PtCu/C alloy catalyst has higher reaction rate and turnover frequency (TOF) values by increasing the pH. Specifically, the reaction rate and TOF of the PtCu/C catalyst at pH 13 were 2.93 and 6.65 times higher than those of Pt/C, respectively. The PtCu/C catalyst also showed lower onset potential value and higher mass and specific activities than the Pt/C by increasing the pH. This indicates that the Cu in the PtCu alloy improves the catalytic activity for the EGOR in an OH⁻ group-rich environment. In the case of the PtCu/C catalyst at a high pH condition, the selectivities of tartronic acid and oxalic acid tended to increase as the selectivity of lactic acid decreased. This result means that the PtCu alloy follows primary alcohol oxidation pathways, which are more favorable in an OH⁻ group-rich environment than with only Pt. This study proposes that it is critical to optimize and control the reaction conditions for developing efficient EGOR catalysts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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12 pages, 4401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pt-Based Electrocatalyst Modified by CsH₂PO₄/SiP₂O₇ for Electrochemical Oxidation of NH₃ to H₂ in Solid Acid Electrolysis Cell

by Jihoon Kim, Daehee Jang, Junil Choi, Junbeom Maeng, Hyun Ho Shin, Taiho Park and Won Bae Kim

Catalysts 2023, 13(4), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13040707 - 06 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1647

Abstract

Ammonia (NH₃) has received much attention as a hydrogen carrier because it can be easily liquefied with a high hydrogen storage density and emits no greenhouse gas during the dihydrogen evolution process. The ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) in an electrochemical system has an important merit in which a very high-purity dihydrogen gas can be obtained without an additional separation process that is typically needed for thermochemical decomposition processes. Herein, the electrochemical AOR was carried out in a solid acid electrolysis cell (SAEC) at an intermediate temperature around 250 °C, in which a solid composite of CsH₂PO₄ mixed with SiP₂O₇ was used as an electrolyte and Pt/C-based electrocatalysts were employed as the electrode materials of both anode and cathode. The Pt/C electrode material was modified with the CsH₂PO₄/SiP₂O₇ electrolyte in order to enhance the electrocatalytic activity for the AOR with an improved H₂ production rate. Over the SAEC system reported here, a high AOR performance was obtained with a current density of 67.1 mA/cm² and Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98.2%. This study can suggest the significant potential of SAEC for the carbon-free H₂ production from the selective electrochemical oxidation of NH₃. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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12 pages, 1330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photodeposition of Fe-Based Cocatalysts Capable of Effectively Promoting the Oxygen Evolution Activity of BaTaO₂N

by Kanta Kobayashi, Takashi Hisatomi, Huihui Li and Kazunari Domen

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020373 - 08 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1899

Abstract

Activation of narrow bandgap photocatalysts is a prerequisite for the efficient production of renewable hydrogen from water using sunlight. Loading of dual cocatalysts intended to promote reduction and oxidation reactions by photodeposition is known to greatly enhance the water splitting activity of certain oxide photocatalysts. However, it is difficult to photodeposit oxygen evolution cocatalysts onto narrow bandgap oxynitride photocatalysts because the driving forces for the necessary oxidation reactions are weak. The present work demonstrates oxidative photodeposition of the Fe-based cocatalyst FeO_x onto a Mg-doped BaTaO₂N photocatalyst having an absorption edge wavelength of 620 nm. This modification enhances the oxygen evolution activity of the photocatalyst more effectively than conventional impregnation methods. The rapid removal of photoexcited electrons from the photocatalyst by a reduction cocatalyst (Pt) and an electron acceptor (molecular oxygen) are evidently necessary for the photodeposition of the FeO_x cocatalyst. A Mg-doped BaTaO₂N photocatalyst coloaded with Pt and FeO_x exhibits an apparent quantum yield of 1.2% at 420 nm during the oxygen evolution reaction in an aqueous AgNO₃ solution. This photodeposition procedure does not involve any heat treatment and so provides new opportunities for the design and construction of oxygen evolution sites on narrow-bandgap non-oxide photocatalysts that may be prone to thermal decomposition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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7 pages, 741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Reduction of Gaseous CO₂ at Low-Intermediate Temperatures Using a Solid Acid Membrane Cell

by Jae Young Kim and Duck Hyun Youn

Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1504; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12121504 - 24 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1252

Abstract

In this study, the electrochemical reduction of gaseous carbon dioxide (CO₂) at low-intermediate temperatures (~250 °C) using a solid acid membrane cell was demonstrated, for the first time. Compared to solid oxide fuel cells, which operate at higher temperatures (>600 °C), this system can utilize the advantage of gaseous CO₂ reduction, while being considerably more simply implemented. A Cu-based electrocatalyst was developed as a cathode side catalyst for electrochemical reduction of gaseous CO₂ and specifically demonstrated its efficacy to produce hydrocarbons and liquid fuels. The result is significant in terms of resolving the challenges associated with producing hydrocarbons and liquid fuels from CO₂ reduction. The present study introduced the novel system with the solid acid membrane cell and the Cu-based catalyst for electrochemically reducing gaseous CO₂. This system showed a new possibility for electrochemical reduction of gaseous CO₂, as it operates at lower temperatures, produces hydrocarbons and liquid fuels and has plenty of room for improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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16 pages, 3608 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Magnetron Sputtered Al Co-Doped with Zr-Fe₂O₃ Photoanode with Fortuitous Al₂O₃ Passivation Layer to Lower the Onset Potential for Photoelectrochemical Solar Water Splitting

by Tae Sik Koh, Periyasamy Anushkkaran, Jun Beom Hwang, Sun Hee Choi, Weon-Sik Chae, Hyun Hwi Lee and Jum Suk Jang

Catalysts 2022, 12(11), 1467; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12111467 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1854

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the magnetron sputtering deposition of an Al-layer on Zr-doped FeOOH (Zr-FeOOH) samples to fabricate a Zr/Al co-doped Fe₂O₃ (Al-Zr/HT) photoanode. An Al-layer is deposited onto Zr-FeOOH through magnetron sputtering and the thickness of the Al deposition is regulated by differing the sputtering time. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy, Mott-Schottky and time-resolved photoluminescence spectra analyses were used to study, in depth, the correlations between sputtered Al-layer thicknesses and PEC characteristics. High-temperature quenching (800 °C) assists in diffusing the Al³⁺ in the bulk of the Zr-doped Fe₂O₃ photoanode, whilst an unintended Al₂O₃ passivation layer forms on the surface. The optimized Al-Zr/HT photoelectrode achieved 0.945 mA/cm² at 1.0 V_RHE, which is 3-fold higher than that of the bare Zr/HT photoanode. The Al₂O₃ passivation layer causes a 100 mV cathodic shift in the onset potential. Al co-doping improved the donor density, thus reducing the electron transit time. In addition, the passivation effect of the Al₂O₃ layer ameliorated the surface charge transfer kinetics. The Al₂O₃ passivation layer suppressed the surface charge transfer resistance, consequently expediting the hole migration from photoanode to electrolyte. We believe that the thickness-controlled Al-layer sputtering approach could be applicable for various metal oxide photoanodes to lower the onset potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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21 pages, 4263 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Emergent CuWO₄ Photoanodes for Solar Fuel Production: Recent Progress and Perspectives

by Jin Uk Lee, Jin Hyun Kim and Jae Sung Lee

Catalysts 2023, 13(11), 1408; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13111408 - 30 Oct 2023

Viewed by 988

Abstract

Solar fuel production using a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell is considered as an effective solution to address the climate change caused by CO₂ emissions, as well as the ever-growing global demand for energy. Like all other solar energy utilization technologies, the PEC cell requires a light absorber that can efficiently convert photons into charge carriers, which are eventually converted into chemical energy. The light absorber used as a photoelectrode determines the most important factors for PEC technology—efficiency, stability, and the cost of the system. Despite intensive research in the last two decades, there is no ideal material that satisfies all these criteria to the level that makes this technology practical. Thus, further exploration and development of the photoelectode materials are necessary, especially by finding a new promising semiconductor material with a suitable band gap and photoelectronic properties. CuWO₄ (n-type, E_g = 2.3 eV) is one of those emerging materials that has favorable intrinsic properties for photo(electro)catalytic water oxidation, yet it has been receiving less attention than it deserves. Nonetheless, valuable pioneering studies have been reported for this material, proving its potential to become a significant option as a photoanode material for PEC cells. Herein, we review recent progress of CuWO₄-based photoelectrodes; discuss the material’s optoelectronic properties, synthesis methods, and PEC characteristics; and finally provide perspective of its applications as a photoelectrode for PEC solar fuel production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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33 pages, 7775 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Organic Semiconductor-Based Photoelectrochemical Cells for Efficient Solar-to-Chemical Conversion

by Je Min Yu and Ji-Wook Jang

Catalysts 2023, 13(5), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13050814 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3758

Abstract

Organic semiconductor-based photoelectrodes are gaining significant attention in photoelectrochemical (PEC) value-added chemical production systems, which are promising architectures for solar energy harvesting. Organic semiconductors consisting of conjugated carbon–carbon bonds provide several advantages for PEC cells, including improved charge transfer, tunable band positions and band gaps, low cost, and facile fabrication using organic solvents. This review gives an overview of the recent advances in emerging single organic semiconductor-based photoelectrodes for PEC water splitting and the various strategies for enhancing their performance and stability. It highlights the importance of photoelectrodes based on donor–acceptor bulk heterojunction (BHJ) systems for fabricating efficient organic semiconductor-based solar energy-harvesting devices. Furthermore, it evaluates the recent progress in BHJ organic base photoelectrodes for producing highly efficient PEC value-added chemicals, such as hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide. Finally, this review highlights the potential of organic-based photoelectrodes for bias-free solar-to-chemical production, which is the ultimate goal of PEC systems and a step toward achieving reliable commercial technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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22 pages, 2726 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Recent Advances in Electrocatalysts for Ammonia Oxidation Reaction

by Ji Hee Jang, So Young Park, Duck Hyun Youn and Youn Jeong Jang

Catalysts 2023, 13(5), 803; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13050803 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4455

Abstract

Ammonia (NH₃) is a clean energy source that can either be directly used as fuel or a hydrogen carrier due to its high energy density and high hydrogen content. The NH₃ electro-oxidation reaction (AOR) is the main reaction in both direct NH₃ fuel cells and NH₃ electrolysis. The AOR is thermodynamically favorable; however, the sluggish kinetics of the reaction can result in issues such as high overpotential, slow reaction rate, deactivation, etc. To overcome this, multiple strategies have been discussed to develop electrocatalysts that maintain a robust reaction rate in low overpotential regions. In this review, the fundamentals of AOR, including thermodynamics, kinetics, and experimental techniques, are studied. This review also focused on recent progress for catalyst modifications and their effects, with a particular focus on Pt- or Ni-based electrocatalysts. Additionally, vacant rooms needed to be developed was pointed, and a way to overcome the limitations was suggested. The fundamentals and efforts to prepare catalysts reviewed in this work will be effective in proposing and designing new robust electrocatalysts leading to advance AOR in practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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19 pages, 3824 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

A Review of Transition Metal Nitride-Based Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia

by So Young Park, Youn Jeong Jang and Duck Hyun Youn

Catalysts 2023, 13(3), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13030639 - 22 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3611

Abstract

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction (NRR) has attracted much attention as a promising technique to produce ammonia at ambient conditions in an environmentally benign and less energy-consuming manner compared to the current Haber–Bosch process. However, even though much research on the NRR catalysts has been conducted, their low selectivity and reaction rate still hinder the practical application of the NRR process. Among various catalysts, transition metal nitride (TMN)-based catalysts are expected to be promising catalysts for NRR. This is because the NRR process can proceed via the unique Mars–Van Krevelen (MvK) mechanism with a compressed competing hydrogen evolution reaction. However, a controversial issue exists regarding the origin of ammonia produced on TMN-based catalysts. The instability of the TMN-based catalysts can lead to ammonia generation from lattice nitrogen instead of supplied N₂ gas. Thus, this review summarizes the recent progress of TMN-based catalysts for NRR, encompassing the NRR mechanism, synthetic routes, characterizations, and controversial opinions. Furthermore, future perspectives on producing ammonia electrochemically using TMN-based catalysts are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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16 pages, 3122 KiB

Open AccessReview

Surface Passivation Engineering for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

by Jingying Shi, Xuefei Zhao and Can Li

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020217 - 17 Jan 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2232

Abstract

Surface passivation engineering is an imperative way to improve photoelectrode performance for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. To the best of our knowledge, it has never been systematically reviewed in a feature article. In this review, we summarize various passivation materials and their preparation, characterizations by PEC measurements and some related spectral technologies. We highlight the features of the passivation effect that separate it from other modifications, such as cocatalyst decoration, and we demonstrate significant progress in combining surface passivation engineering with other interfacial modification strategies for the rational design of photoelectrodes. Ideas for future research on surface passivation modification for improving the performance of photoelectrodes are also proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theme Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Jae Sung Lee)

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