Surface compositional modification of Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2(0001) from vacuum to electrochemical water splitting conditions

Li Ma; Nikolaos Antonios Iaktnthos Nemet; Martin Bremholm; Zhaozong Sun; Anders Koldby Vestergaard; Zheshen Li; Jeppe V. Lauritsen

doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.162046

Surface compositional modification of Weyl semimetal Co₃Sn₂S₂(0001) from vacuum to electrochemical water splitting conditions

Li Ma, Nikolaos Antonios Iaktnthos Nemet, Martin Bremholm, Zhaozong Sun, Anders Koldby Vestergaard, Zheshen Li, Jeppe V. Lauritsen^*

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

Abstract

This study investigates the surface compositional evolution of the topological Weyl semimetal Co₃Sn₂S₂, proposed to be an active catalyst for water splitting, from ultra high vacuum (UHV) to catalytic reaction conditions, using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the surface cleaved in ambient air is completely oxidized, forming Co oxides and Sn oxides/hydroxides. This surface exhibits an overpotential of 503 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for OER. However, the UHV-cleaved surface maintains Co₃Sn₂S₂ pristine features, showing remarkably slow kinetics compared to the air-cleaved sample. Systematically tracking the oxidation process under various exposure conditions reveals that a small amount of Sn oxides forms upon exposures to O₂ and H₂O under UHV, while a strong interaction between Sn and liquid water occurs at atmosphere conditions. In contrast, higher exposed pressure promotes Co oxidation, resulting in the formation of Co oxides in atmospheric air, which correlates with enhanced catalytic activity. Despite unfavorable evidence regarding the surface robustness, this work provides crucial insights into Co₃Sn₂S₂ surface reactivity.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	162046
Tidsskrift	Applied Surface Science
Vol/bind	686
Antal sider	9
ISSN	0169-4332
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.162046
Status	Udgivet - 30 mar. 2025

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10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.162046Licens: CC BY

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title = "Surface compositional modification of Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2(0001) from vacuum to electrochemical water splitting conditions",

abstract = "This study investigates the surface compositional evolution of the topological Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2, proposed to be an active catalyst for water splitting, from ultra high vacuum (UHV) to catalytic reaction conditions, using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the surface cleaved in ambient air is completely oxidized, forming Co oxides and Sn oxides/hydroxides. This surface exhibits an overpotential of 503 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for OER. However, the UHV-cleaved surface maintains Co3Sn2S2 pristine features, showing remarkably slow kinetics compared to the air-cleaved sample. Systematically tracking the oxidation process under various exposure conditions reveals that a small amount of Sn oxides forms upon exposures to O2 and H2O under UHV, while a strong interaction between Sn and liquid water occurs at atmosphere conditions. In contrast, higher exposed pressure promotes Co oxidation, resulting in the formation of Co oxides in atmospheric air, which correlates with enhanced catalytic activity. Despite unfavorable evidence regarding the surface robustness, this work provides crucial insights into Co3Sn2S2 surface reactivity.",

keywords = "CoSnS, OER, Oxidation, Topologic material, Weyl semimetal, XPS",

author = "Li Ma and Nemet, {Nikolaos Antonios Iaktnthos} and Martin Bremholm and Zhaozong Sun and Vestergaard, {Anders Koldby} and Zheshen Li and Lauritsen, {Jeppe V.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Authors",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.162046",

language = "English",

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journal = "Applied Surface Science",

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Surface compositional modification of Weyl semimetal Co₃Sn₂S₂(0001) from vacuum to electrochemical water splitting conditions. / Ma, Li; Nemet, Nikolaos Antonios Iaktnthos ; Bremholm, Martin et al.
I: Applied Surface Science, Bind 686, 162046, 30.03.2025.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Surface compositional modification of Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2(0001) from vacuum to electrochemical water splitting conditions

AU - Ma, Li

AU - Nemet, Nikolaos Antonios Iaktnthos

AU - Bremholm, Martin

AU - Sun, Zhaozong

AU - Vestergaard, Anders Koldby

AU - Li, Zheshen

AU - Lauritsen, Jeppe V.

PY - 2025/3/30

Y1 - 2025/3/30

N2 - This study investigates the surface compositional evolution of the topological Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2, proposed to be an active catalyst for water splitting, from ultra high vacuum (UHV) to catalytic reaction conditions, using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the surface cleaved in ambient air is completely oxidized, forming Co oxides and Sn oxides/hydroxides. This surface exhibits an overpotential of 503 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for OER. However, the UHV-cleaved surface maintains Co3Sn2S2 pristine features, showing remarkably slow kinetics compared to the air-cleaved sample. Systematically tracking the oxidation process under various exposure conditions reveals that a small amount of Sn oxides forms upon exposures to O2 and H2O under UHV, while a strong interaction between Sn and liquid water occurs at atmosphere conditions. In contrast, higher exposed pressure promotes Co oxidation, resulting in the formation of Co oxides in atmospheric air, which correlates with enhanced catalytic activity. Despite unfavorable evidence regarding the surface robustness, this work provides crucial insights into Co3Sn2S2 surface reactivity.

AB - This study investigates the surface compositional evolution of the topological Weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2, proposed to be an active catalyst for water splitting, from ultra high vacuum (UHV) to catalytic reaction conditions, using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the surface cleaved in ambient air is completely oxidized, forming Co oxides and Sn oxides/hydroxides. This surface exhibits an overpotential of 503 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for OER. However, the UHV-cleaved surface maintains Co3Sn2S2 pristine features, showing remarkably slow kinetics compared to the air-cleaved sample. Systematically tracking the oxidation process under various exposure conditions reveals that a small amount of Sn oxides forms upon exposures to O2 and H2O under UHV, while a strong interaction between Sn and liquid water occurs at atmosphere conditions. In contrast, higher exposed pressure promotes Co oxidation, resulting in the formation of Co oxides in atmospheric air, which correlates with enhanced catalytic activity. Despite unfavorable evidence regarding the surface robustness, this work provides crucial insights into Co3Sn2S2 surface reactivity.

KW - CoSnS

KW - OER

KW - Oxidation

KW - Topologic material

KW - Weyl semimetal

KW - XPS

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U2 - 10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.162046

DO - 10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.162046

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85212314146

SN - 0169-4332

VL - 686

JO - Applied Surface Science

JF - Applied Surface Science

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