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Synergizing Strain and Ternary Components in Ultrathin PtCuIr-IrOx Nanodendrites to Enable the C2 Pathway for Ethanol
Yiqun Zheng1, Xiaoyi Guo1, Jiahao Zheng1
1School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Materials, Jining University, Qufu, Shandong 273155, China.
Abstract:
Efficient and selective ethanol electrooxidation to acetate is hindered by competing poisoning and overoxidation pathways. We address this through ultrathin PtCuIr-IrOx nanodendrites that integrate strain engineering with ternary functionality. The alloy core imposes compressive strain, downshifting the Pt d-band center to optimize adsorption, while the oxophilic IrOx phase supplies oxygenated sites that accelerate ethanol dehydrogenation and acetaldehyde-to-acetate conversion. In situ SERS confirms the preferential accumulation of acetate, while DFT calculations reveal near-thermoneutral adsorption of acetaldehyde, which can be driven by interfacial electron transfer via the C2 pathway. The catalyst shows enhanced activity, achieving a current density 3-fold higher than that of Pt/C, along with improved stability, maintaining a current density 4-fold higher than Pt/C after 3000 s of chronoamperometric testing. This work establishes the integration of strain-tuned alloys with oxophilic oxides as an effective strategy for steering reaction pathway preference in complex electrocatalysis.
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