Boosting the electrocatalytic ammonia oxidation reaction through dual-interface effects

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Interface engineering is crucial for optimizing metal oxide/alloy/carbon composites in catalysis.
• Weakening *N binding on platinum (Pt) is key for efficient ammonia dehydrogenation.
• Synergistic effects between material interfaces can enhance catalytic reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and investigate PtCoO_x/C catalysts for improved ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR).
• To explore the dual-interface synergistic effects of "metal oxide-alloy" (PtCo-CoO_x) and "alloy-carbon" (PtCo-C) on catalyst performance.
• To evaluate the catalytic activity and stability of the engineered catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Facile synthesis of PtCoO_x/C catalysts.
• Electrochemical characterization to assess catalytic performance.
• Comparative analysis with PtCo/C and PtCo SS/C catalysts.

Main Results:

• PtCoO_x/C catalysts demonstrated enhanced AOR activity, achieving a current density of 18.4 mA cm^-2.
• The dual-interface effects (PtCo-CoO_x and PtCo-C) synergistically modulated the electronic structure of Pt.
• PtCoO_x/C exhibited superior stability compared to control catalysts (PtCo/C and PtCo SS/C).

Conclusions:

• Dual-interface engineering is a critical strategy for enhancing AOR performance in Pt-based catalysts.
• The synergistic interaction between PtCo, CoO_x, and carbon supports significantly improves catalytic efficiency.
• PtCoO_x/C represents a promising catalyst for applications requiring efficient ammonia oxidation.