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CoP/RGO-Pd Hybrids with Heterointerfaces as Highly Active Catalysts for Ethanol Electrooxidation
Mengchao Wang1,2, Ruimin Ding1, Yicong Xiao1
1State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 30, 2020
Summary
New CoP/RGO-Pd hybrid catalysts significantly improve ethanol electrooxidation by enhancing C-C bond cleavage. This boosts selectivity for the C1 pathway, crucial for direct ethanol fuel cells.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
Background:
- Ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) is vital for direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs).
- Current catalysts exhibit poor C-C bond cleavage, leading to incomplete oxidation and low C1 pathway selectivity.
- Enhancing C1 selectivity is key to improving DEFC efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design novel CoP/RGO-Pd hybrid catalysts with rich heterointerfaces.
- To improve ethanol electrooxidation performance by enhancing C1 pathway selectivity.
- To leverage theoretical calculations to guide catalyst design.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of CoP/RGO-Pd hybrid materials.
- Electrochemical characterization of ethanol oxidation.
- Theoretical calculations to understand C-C bond cleavage mechanisms.
- Evaluation of faradaic efficiency and catalytic activity.
Main Results:
- CoP/RGO-Pd hybrids exhibit rich heterointerfaces that facilitate C-C bond cleavage.
- Faradaic efficiency for the C1 pathway reached 27.6%, outperforming existing catalysts.
- CoP/RGO-Pd10 demonstrated high mass activity (4597 mA·mgPd-1) and specific activity (10 mA·cm-2).
Conclusions:
- CoP/RGO-Pd hybrids effectively enhance ethanol electrooxidation selectivity towards the C1 pathway.
- The designed catalysts show superior performance compared to other Pd-based electrocatalysts.
- This work offers a promising strategy for developing efficient catalysts for DEFCs.
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