A stable low-temperature H₂-production catalyst by crowding Pt on α-MoC

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Energy Production

Background:

• The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction is crucial for industrial hydrogen production.
• Efficient WGS catalysis at low temperatures is essential for fuel-cell applications.
• Existing catalysts often lack the required durability and activity at lower temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly active and stable catalyst for the WGS reaction at low temperatures.
• To investigate a novel catalyst structure involving platinum atoms and clusters on molybdenum carbide.
• To understand the reaction mechanism and identify factors contributing to catalyst stability.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a (Pt1-Ptn)/α-MoC catalyst structure, stabilizing isolated platinum atoms (Pt1) and subnanometer platinum clusters (Ptn) on α-molybdenum carbide (α-MoC).
• Testing the catalyst's performance in the WGS reaction at 313 Kelvin.
• Characterization of the catalyst structure and identification of the hydrogen-production pathway, including direct carbon monoxide dissociation.

Main Results:

• The (Pt1-Ptn)/α-MoC catalyst demonstrated high activity for the WGS reaction at 313 K.
• A hydrogen-production pathway involving direct carbon monoxide dissociation was identified.
• The catalyst exhibited high stability due to the prevention of support oxidation, achieving a high metal-normalized turnover number of 4,300,000 mol H2/mol Pt.

Conclusions:

• Stabilizing isolated platinum atoms and clusters on α-molybdenum carbide is a key strategy for developing active and stable WGS catalysts.
• The designed catalyst overcomes limitations of previous systems, showing excellent performance and durability.
• This approach is anticipated to be pivotal for designing advanced catalysts for energy production through efficient water and carbon monoxide activation.