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Published on: December 6, 2021
Temperature-Induced Interface Hybridization of WC Boosts NiCu Activity for Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction
Zhenyang Xie1, Mengting Li1, Yuanyuan Zhou1
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, Center of Advanced Energy Technology and Electrochemistry (CAETE), Institute of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
Abstract:
The development of non-precious hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalysts is a major challenge for the commercialization of Pt-free fuel cells. Herein, a temperature-induced phase hybridization method is reported that greatly improves the catalytic performance of NiCu alloy for the HOR. The migration of W atoms hybridizes the interface of tungsten oxide (WOx) and tungsten carbide (WC) at the onset reduction temperature of WOx, leading to a greatly weakened H binding energy and an optimized OH binding energy, which endows NiCuW/WOx-WC@WC with favorable stability and CO resistance during HOR. The hybridization catalysts deliver a high mass activity of 29.37 mA mg-1 Ni and reach a peak power of 298 mW.cm-2 in H2-O2 anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs).
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