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Highly electronegative PtAu alloy for simultaneous hydrogen generation and ethanol upgrading

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Simultaneous electrochemical synthesis of high-value-added chemicals and hydrogen is a promising technology for efficient carbon utilization and renewable energy storage. However, the lack of rational guidance for designing efficient catalysts for electrosynthesis significantly hinders its development. A new technology of simultaneous generation of hydrogen and upgrading of ethanol by using catalysts based on PtAu nanoparticles (NPs) was reported. At a current density of 10 mA·cm−2, the cell using PtAu nanoparticles had a low onset potential of 0.67 V, much lower than those of PtIr NPs (0.85 V) and commercial platinum on carbon catalyst (Pt/C) (0.92 V). PtAu NPs also possessed higher Faraday efficiencies of 79% for ethyl acetate production and 95% for hydrogen evolution than PtIr NPs and Pt/C. In addition, the cell based on PtAu NPs exhibited no obvious degradation of performance after a current-time stability test for 1000 s. Further study revealed that the introduction of highly electronegative Au into Pt-based nanomaterials could facilitate the activation of ethanol. This work can benefit the rational design of catalysts with enhanced selectivity of electrosynthesis.

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摘要

摘要：同时电化学合成高附加值化学品和氢气是有效达成碳中和及可再生能源储存的一种有前景的技术。然 而，由于缺乏设计电合成催化剂的基本指导策略，严重阻碍了其发展。我们提出了一种基于PtAu 纳米颗粒催化 剂的同时产氢气和乙醇升级转化的新技术。在10 mA·cm−2 的电流密度下，使用PtAu 纳米颗粒的电解池具有 0.67 V 的起始电位，远低于PtIr 纳米颗粒（0.85 V）和商用Pt/C（0.92 V）。在3 种催化剂中，PtAu 纳米颗粒 还具有最高的法拉第效率，产乙酸乙酯法拉第效率为79%，析氢法拉第效率为95%。此外，基于PtAu 纳米颗 粒的电解池在1000 s 的计时电流法稳定性测试后没有表现出明显的性能衰退。进一步的研究表明，在基于Pt 的纳米材料中引入高电负性元素Au 可以促进乙醇的活化。这项工作有助于合理设计高电合成选择性的催化剂。

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22105018, 22002003 and 22179009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Construction-Tailorable Advanced Functional Materials and Green Applications, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Kun Yin & Hong-Bo Li

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Meng-Gang Li, Yu-Guang Chao, Yin Zhou & Shao-Jun Guo

  3. Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Fang-Ze Liu

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  1. Kun Yin
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Yin, K., Li, MG., Chao, YG. et al. Highly electronegative PtAu alloy for simultaneous hydrogen generation and ethanol upgrading. Rare Met. 42, 2949–2956 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-023-02289-x

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