Welcome to Prof. Jin-Xun Liu's Research Group

Our group has expertise in first-principles computational modeling and machine learning approaches to understand and predict catalysts for use in energy storage, sustainable chemical production and reducing the environmental impact of products. Developing and using new theoretical approaches, we devoted to establish the structure-activity relationship of the catalytic materials at atomic scale to realize the rational design of better catalysts. The interests of our group include: (1) Integrated Genetic Algorithm - Grand Canonical Monte Carlo - Microkinetics simulations approaches together to study the active structure of clusters catalysts, and to clarify the influence of the dynamic evolution of structures on catalytic performance; (2) The theoretical investigation of crystal phase effect on heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis; (3) Using machine learning approach to accelerate catalyst and materials design. Our group has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers, including Nat. Commun., Natl. Sci. Rev., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. and so on. We welcome students of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs to join our group. 

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Electron-Rich Subnanometer Cu Clusters Facilitate CO–CO Coupling in CO2 Electroreduction

      Subnanometer copper clusters supported on functional substrates have emerged as promising catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2RR) to multicarbon (C2+) products. However, the mechanistic origin of their superior C–C coupling activity remains elusive. Here, we combine machine learning–accelerated grand canonical Monte Carlo sampling with grand canonical density functional theory to reveal how the electronic and structural features of the g-C3N4-supported Cu8 cluster promote CO–CO dimerization. Under increasingly negative potentials, CO adsorption is thermodynamically favored, whereas formate adsorption is suppressed, increasing both the intrinsic reactivity and the statistical likelihood of C–C bond formation. Relative to an extended Cu(100) surface, Cu8 clusters exhibit lower CO–CO coupling barriers via purely top-bound CO adsorption. This is driven by their undercoordinated Cu atoms, which incur a larger positive shift in the potential of zero charge (UPZC) and accumulate more excess electronic charge. These factors enhance Cu–OCCO orbital hybridization and stabilize the OCCO intermediate through strong electrostatic interactions induced by field–dipole coupling. Although some metastable Cu8 isomers are intrinsically active, CO-saturated global-minimum Cu8(CO)15 species dominate under operating conditions because of their high population and favorable kinetics. Our findings highlight the critical roles of the electronic structure and cluster geometry in mediating electron transfer and intermediate stabilization, yielding transferable design rules to enhance valuable-product formation across electrocatalytic platforms.