First-principles-aided thermodynamic modeling of transition-metal heterogeneous catalysts: A review

Over the past decade, the first-principles-aided thermodynamic models have become standard theoretical tools in research on structural stability and evolution of transition-metal heterogeneous catalysts under reaction environment. Advances in first-principles-aided thermodynamic models mean it is now possible to enable the operando computational modeling, which provides a deep insight into mechanism behind structural stability and evolution, and paves the way for high-through screening for promising transition-metal heterogeneous catalysts. Here, we briefly review the framework and foundation of first-principles-aided thermodynamic models and highlight its contribution to stability analysis on catalysts and identification of reaction-induced structural evolution of catalyst under reaction environment. The present review is helpful for understanding the ongoing developments of first-principles-aided thermodynamic models, which can be employed to screen high-stability catalysts and predict their structural reconstruction in future rational catalyst design.