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Interface-Triggered Spin-Magnetic Effect in Rare Earth Intraparticle Heterostructured Nanoalloys for Boosting
Hengjun Liu1, Yong Jiang1, Qingqing Li1
1Tianjin Key Lab for Rare Earth Materials and Applications, Center for Rare Earth and Inorganic Functional Materials, Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute for Advanced Materials, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, P. R. China.
This study introduces novel rare earth-transition metal nanoalloys for advanced spin catalysis. These catalysts demonstrate superior performance in hydrogen evolution, driven by unique interface magnetism.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Catalysis
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Rare earth (RE) elements offer unique spin-magnetic properties due to their 4f electron configuration.
- Alloying RE with transition metals (TM) for spin catalysts is challenging but promising.
- Understanding the RE-TM spin-magnetic interplay is crucial for catalyst development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a synthesis protocol for RE-TM-noble metal integrated intraparticle heterostructured nanoalloys (IHAs).
- To investigate the spin-magnetic effects at the RE-TM interface and their influence on catalysis.
- To evaluate the catalytic performance of the novel IHAs for hydrogen evolution.
Main Methods:
- Solid-phase synthesis of RhCo-RhGd IHAs.
- Characterization of the intraparticle heterostructure and interface properties.
- Theoretical calculations to understand spin polarization and catalytic mechanisms.
- Electrochemical testing for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized RhCo-RhGd IHAs with distinct Gd-Co interfaces within a Rh framework.
- Observed interface-triggered antiferromagnetic interactions influencing electron redistribution and spin polarization.
- Theoretical calculations confirmed optimized H2O adsorption/dissociation at heterointerfaces with weakened spin polarization.
- Achieved a low overpotential (11.3 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²) and excellent stability in alkaline HER.
Conclusions:
- The developed solid-phase synthesis enables the creation of advanced RE-TM IHAs.
- Interface magnetism in RhCo-RhGd IHAs effectively promotes alkaline hydrogen evolution.
- These IHAs represent a significant advancement over existing Rh-based catalysts for HER.
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