Atomically ordered non-precious Co3Ta intermetallic nanoparticles as high-performance catalysts for hydrazine
Guang Feng1, Li An1, Biao Li1
1Beijing Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Advanced Batteries Materials, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China.
Researchers synthesized non-precious cobalt-tantalum (Co3Ta) intermetallic nanoparticles for fuel cells. These nanoparticles show high activity for hydrazine oxidation, outperforming platinum catalysts.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nano-ordered intermetallic compounds are promising for fuel cells.
- Synthesizing non-precious early transition metal intermetallic nanoparticles is challenging due to their reactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize non-precious Co3Ta intermetallic nanoparticles.
- To evaluate their performance as electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of uniform 5 nm Co3Ta nanoparticles.
- Atomic structural characterization and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements.
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized atomically ordered Co3Ta intermetallic nanoparticles.
- Co3Ta nanoparticles demonstrated an onset potential of -0.086 V for hydrazine oxidation.
- Achieved two times higher specific activity compared to commercial Pt/C.
Conclusions:
- Co3Ta nanoparticles are effective electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation.
- Co-Ta bridge sites are identified as the active centers.
- Enhanced activity is attributed to reduced activation energy for hydrogen dissociation.
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