Publications

@article{Wang2022,

title = {Surface chemistry on a polarizable surface: Coupling of CO with KTaO _{3}(001)},

author = {Zhichang Wang and Michele Reticcioli and Zdenek Jakub and Igor Sokolović and Matthias Meier and Lynn A Boatner and Michael Schmid and Gareth S Parkinson and Ulrike Diebold and Cesare Franchini and Martin Setvin},

url = {https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abq1433},

doi = {10.1126/sciadv.abq1433},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-08-19},

urldate = {2022-08-19},

journal = {Science Advances},

volume = {8},

issue = {33},

publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)},

abstract = {Polarizable materials attract attention in catalysis because they have a free parameter for tuning chemical reactivity. Their surfaces entangle the dielectric polarization with surface polarity, excess charge, and orbital hybridization. How this affects individual adsorbed molecules is shown for the incipient ferroelectric perovskite KTaO_{3}. This intrinsically polar material cleaves along (001) into KO- and TaO_{2}-terminated surface domains. At TaO_{2} terraces, the polarity-compensating excess electrons form a two-dimensional electron gas and can also localize by coupling to ferroelectric distortions. TaO_{2} terraces host two distinct types of CO molecules, adsorbed at equivalent lattice sites but charged differently as seen in atomic force microscopy/scanning tunneling microscopy. Temperature-programmed desorption shows substantially stronger binding of the charged CO; in density functional theory calculations, the excess charge favors a bipolaronic configuration coupled to the CO. These results pinpoint how adsorption states couple to ferroelectric polarization.},

keywords = {P02, P04, P07},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Reticcioli2022,

title = {Competing electronic states emerging on polar surfaces},

author = {Michele Reticcioli and Zhichang Wang and Michael Schmid and Dominik Wrana and Lynn A. Boatner and Ulrike Diebold and Martin Setvin and Cesare Franchini},

url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31953-6},

doi = {10.1038/s41467-022-31953-6},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-07-25},

urldate = {2022-07-25},

journal = {Nature Communications},

volume = {13},

number = {4311},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {Excess charge on polar surfaces of ionic compounds is commonly described by the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) model, a homogeneous distribution of charge, spatially-confined in a few atomic layers. Here, by combining scanning probe microscopy with density functional theory calculations, we show that excess charge on the polar TaO_{2} termination of KTaO_{3}(001) forms more complex electronic states with different degrees of spatial and electronic localization: charge density waves (CDW) coexist with strongly-localized electron polarons and bipolarons. These surface electronic reconstructions, originating from the combined action of electron-lattice interaction and electronic correlation, are energetically more favorable than the 2DEG solution. They exhibit distinct spectroscopy signals and impact on the surface properties, as manifested by a local suppression of ferroelectric distortions.},

keywords = {P02, P07},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Birschitzky2022,

title = {Machine learning for exploring small polaron configurational space},

author = {Viktor C Birschitzky and Florian Ellinger and Ulrike Diebold and Michele Reticcioli and Cesare Franchini},

url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41524-022-00805-8},

doi = {10.1038/s41524-022-00805-8},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-06-06},

urldate = {2022-06-06},

journal = {npj Computational Materials},

volume = {8},

number = {125},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {Polaron defects are ubiquitous in materials and play an important role in many processes involving carrier mobility, charge transfer and surface reactivity. Determining small polarons’ spatial distributions is essential to understand materials properties and functionalities. However, the required exploration of the configurational space is computationally demanding when using first principles methods. Here, we propose a machine-learning (ML) accelerated search that determines the ground state polaronic configuration. The ML model is trained on databases of polaron configurations generated by density functional theory (DFT) via molecular dynamics or random sampling. To establish a mapping between configurations and their stability, we designed descriptors modelling the interactions among polarons and charged point defects. We used the DFT+ML protocol to explore the polaron configurational space for two surface-systems, reduced rutile TiO_{2}(110) and Nb-doped SrTiO_{3}(001). The ML-aided search proposes additional polaronic configurations and can be utilized to determine optimal polaron distributions at any charge concentration.},

keywords = {P02, P07},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ANGEWANDTE2022,

title = {Structure of an Ultrathin Oxide on Pt_{3}Sn(111) Solved by Machine Learning Enhanced Global Optimization},

author = {Lindsay R Merte and Malthe Kjær Bisbo and Igor Sokolović and Martin Setvín and Benjamin Hagman and Mikhail Shipilin and Michael Schmid and Ulrike Diebold and Edvin Lundgren and Bjørk Hammer},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202204244},

doi = {10.1002/anie.202204244},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-04-05},

urldate = {2022-04-05},

journal = {Angewandte Chemie - International Edition},

volume = {61},

issue = {25},

pages = {e202204244},

abstract = {Determination of the atomic structure of solid surfaces typically depends on comparison of measured properties with simulations based on hypothesized structural models. For simple structures, the models may be guessed, but for more complex structures there is a need for reliable theory-based search algorithms. So far, such methods have been limited by the combinatorial complexity and computational expense of sufficiently accurate energy estimation for surfaces. However, the introduction of machine learning methods has the potential to change this radically. Here, we demonstrate how an evolutionary algorithm, utilizing machine learning for accelerated energy estimation and diverse population generation, can be used to solve an unknown surface structure—the (4×4) surface oxide on Pt_{3}Sn(111)–based on limited experimental input. The algorithm is efficient and robust, and should be broadly applicable in surface studies, where it can replace manual, intuition based model generation.},

keywords = {P02},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{SCIADV2022,

title = {CO oxidation by Pt_{2}/Fe_{3}O_{4}: Metastable dimer and support configurations facilitate lattice oxygen extraction},

author = {Matthias Meier and Jan Hulva and Zdenek Jakub and Florian Kraushofer and Mislav Bobić and Roland Bliem and Martin Setvin and Michael Schmid and Ulrike Diebold and Cesare Franchini and Gareth S Parkinson},

url = {https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abn4580},

doi = {10.1126/sciadv.abn4580},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-04-01},

urldate = {2022-04-01},

journal = {ScienceAdvances},

volume = {8},

issue = {13},

pages = {eabn4580},

abstract = {Heterogeneous catalysts based on subnanometer metal clusters often exhibit strongly size-dependent properties, and the addition or removal of a single atom can make all the difference. Identifying the most active species and deciphering the reaction mechanism is extremely difficult, however, because it is often not clear how the catalyst evolves in operando. Here, we use a combination of atomically resolved scanning probe microscopies, spectroscopic techniques, and density functional theory (DFT)–based calculations to study CO oxidation by a model Pt/Fe_{3}O_{4}(001) “single-atom” catalyst. We demonstrate that (PtCO)_{2} dimers, formed dynamically through the agglomeration of mobile Pt-carbonyl species, catalyze a reaction involving the oxide support to form CO_{2}. Pt_{2} dimers produce one CO_{2} molecule before falling apart into two adatoms, releasing the second CO. Olattice extraction only becomes facile when both the Pt-dimer and the Fe_{3}O_{4} support can access metastable configurations, suggesting that substantial, concerted rearrangements of both cluster and support must be considered for reactions occurring at elevated temperature.},

keywords = {P02, P04, P07},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{JPCM2022,

title = {Modeling polarons in density functional theory: lessons learned from TiO_{2}},

author = {Michele Reticcioli and Ulrike Diebold and Cesare Franchini},

url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-648X/ac58d7},

doi = {10.1088/1361-648X/ac58d7},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-03-14},

urldate = {2022-03-14},

journal = {Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter},

volume = {34},

number = {20},

pages = {204006},

abstract = {Density functional theory (DFT) is nowadays one of the most broadly used and successful techniques to study the properties of polarons and their effects in materials. Here, we systematically analyze the aspects of the theoretical calculations that are crucial to obtain reliable predictions in agreement with the experimental observations. We focus on rutile TiO_{2}, a prototypical polaronic compound, and compare the formation of polarons on the (110) surface and subsurface atomic layers. As expected, the parameter U used to correct the electronic correlation in the DFT+U formalism affects the resulting charge localization, local structural distortions and electronic properties of polarons. Moreover, the polaron localization can be driven to different sites by strain: Due to different local environments, surface and subsurface polarons show different responses to the applied strain, with impact on the relative energy stability. An accurate description of the properties of polarons is key to understand their impact on complex phenomena and applications: As an example, we show the effects of lattice strain on the interaction between polarons and CO adsorbates.},

keywords = {P02, P07},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Franceschi2022,

title = {Reconstruction changes drive surface diffusion and determine the flatness of oxide surfaces},

author = {Giada Franceschi and Michael Schmid and Ulrike Diebold and Michele Riva},

doi = {10.1116/6.0001704},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-02-22},

urldate = {2022-02-22},

journal = {Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A},

volume = {40},

number = {2},

pages = {023206},

publisher = {American Vacuum Society},

abstract = {Surface diffusion on metal oxides is key in many areas of materials technology, yet it has been scarcely explored at the atomic scale. This work provides phenomenological insights from scanning tunneling microscopy on the link between surface diffusion, surface atomic structure, and oxygen chemical potential based on three model oxide surfaces: Fe}2}O_{3}(1-102), La_{1−x}Sr_{x}MnO_{3}(110), and In_{2}O_{3}(111). In all instances, changing the oxygen chemical potential used for annealing stabilizes reconstructions of different compositions while promoting the flattening of the surface morphology—a sign of enhanced surface diffusion. It is argued that thermodynamics, rather than kinetics, rules surface diffusion under these conditions: the composition change of the surface reconstructions formed at differently oxidizing conditions drives mass transport across the surface.},

keywords = {P02},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ACSMEASURE2022,

title = {Why and How Savitzky–Golay Filters Should Be Replaced},

author = {Michael Schmid and David Rath and Ulrike Diebold},

url = {https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.1c00054},

doi = {10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.1c00054},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-02-17},

urldate = {2022-02-17},

journal = {ACS Measurement Science Au},

volume = {2},

number = {2},

pages = {185--196},

abstract = {Savitzky–Golay (SG) filtering, based on local least-squares fitting of the data by polynomials, is a popular method for smoothing data and calculations of derivatives of noisy data. At frequencies above the cutoff, SG filters have poor noise suppression; this unnecessarily reduces the signal-to-noise ratio, especially when calculating derivatives of the data. In addition, SG filtering near the boundaries of the data range is prone to artifacts, which are especially strong when using SG filters for calculating derivatives of the data. We show how these disadvantages can be avoided while keeping the advantageous properties of SG filters. We present two classes of finite impulse response (FIR) filters with substantially improved frequency response: (i) SG filters with fitting weights in the shape of a window function and (ii) convolution kernels based on the sinc function with a Gaussian-like window function and additional corrections for improving the frequency response in the passband (modified sinc kernel). Compared with standard SG filters, the only price to pay for the improvement is a moderate increase in the kernel size. Smoothing at the boundaries of the data can be improved with a non-FIR method, the Whittaker–Henderson smoother, or by linear extrapolation of the data, followed by convolution with a modified sinc kernel, and we show that the latter is preferable in most cases. We provide computer programs and equations for the smoothing parameters of these smoothers when used as plug-in replacements for SG filters and describe how to choose smoothing parameters to preserve peak heights in spectra.},

keywords = {P02},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Shi2022,

title = {High-performance water gas shift induced by asymmetric oxygen vacancies: Gold clusters supported by ceria-praseodymia mixed oxides},

author = {Junjie Shi and Hailian Li and Alexander Genest and Weixuan Zhao and Pengfei Qi and Tao Wang and Günther Rupprechter},

doi = {10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120789},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-02-01},

urldate = {2022-02-01},

journal = {Applied Catalysis B: Environmental},

volume = {301},

pages = {120789},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

abstract = {Modifying and controlling sites at the metal/oxide interface is an effective way of tuning catalytic activity, beneficial for bifunctional catalysis by reducible oxide supported \underline{metal nanoparticles}. We employed mixed ceria-praseodymia supported Au clusters for the \underline{water gas shift} reaction (WGSR). Varying the Ce:Pr ratio (4:1, 2:1, 1:4) not only allows to control the number of oxygen vacancies but, even more important, their local coordination, with asymmetrically coordinated O# being most active for water activation. These effects have been examined by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption/reduction (TPD/TPR), and density functional theory (DFT). Using the WGSR performance of Au/CeOx as reference, Au/Ce_{4}Pr_{1}O_{x} was identified to exhibit the highest activity, with a CO conversion of 75% at 300 °C, which is about 5-times that of Au/CeO_{x}. Au/Ce_{4}Pr_{1}O_{x} also showed excellent stability, with the conversion still being 70% after 50 h time-on-stream at 300 °C. Although a higher Pr content leads to more O vacancies, the catalytic activity showed a “volcano behavior”. Based on DFT, this was rationalized via the formation energy of oxygen vacancies, the binding energy of water, and the asymmetry of the O# site. The presented route of creating active vacancy sites should also be relevant for other heterogeneous catalytic systems.},

keywords = {P08},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Kiatsaengthong2022,

title = {Effects of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba Dopants on the Performance of La_{2}O_{3} Catalysts for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane},

author = {Danusorn Kiatsaengthong and Kanticha Jaroenpanon and Pooripong Somchuea and Thanaphat Chukeaw and Metta Chareonpanich and Kajornsak Faungnawakij and Hiesang Sohn and Günther Rupprechter and Anusorn Seubsai},

doi = {10.1021/acsomega.1c04738},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-04},

urldate = {2022-01-04},

journal = {ACS Omega},

volume = {7},

number = {2},

pages = {1785--1793},

publisher = {American Chemical Society (ACS)},

abstract = {Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is a reaction to directly convert methane into high value-added hydrocarbons (C_{2+}) such as ethylene and ethane using molecular oxygen and a catalyst. This work investigated lanthanum oxide catalysts for OCM, which were promoted with alkaline-earth metal oxides (Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and prepared by the solution-mixing method. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, CO_{2}-programmed desorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The comparative performance of each promoter showed that promising lanthanum-loaded alkaline-earth metal oxide catalysts were La-Sr and La-Ba. In contrast, the combination of La with Ca or Mg did not lead to a clear improvement of C_{2+} yield. The most promising LaSr50 catalyst exhibited the highest C_{2+} yield of 17.2%, with a 56.0% C_{2+} selectivity and a 30.9% CH_{4} conversion. Catalyst characterization indicated that their activity was strongly associated with moderate basic sites and surface-adsorbed oxygen species of O_{2}^{–}. Moreover, the catalyst was stable over 25 h at a reactor temperature of 700 °C.},

keywords = {P08},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}