A self-reactivated PdCu catalyst for aldehyde electro-oxidation with anodic hydrogen production

作者：Ming Yang, Yimin Jiang, Chung‐Li Dong, Leitao Xu, Yutong Huang, Shifan Leng, Yandong Wu, Yongxiang Luo, Wei Chen, Ta Thi Thuy Nga, Shuangyin Wang, Yuqin Zou · 发表于：Nature Communications · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1038/s41467-024-54286-y · 被引用次数：69 · 研究领域：Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion、Electrochemical Analysis and Applications、Advanced battery technologies research

The low-potential aldehyde oxidation reaction can occur at low potential (~0 VRHE) and release H2 at the anode, enabling hydrogen production with less than one-tenth of the energy consumption required for water splitting. Nevertheless, the activity and stability of Cu catalysts remain inadequate due to the oxidative deactivation of Cu-based materials. Herein, we elucidate the deactivation and reactivation cycle of Cu electrocatalyst and develop a self-reactivating PdCu catalyst that exhibits significantly enhanced stability. Initially, in-situ Raman spectroscopy confirm the cycle involved in electrochemical oxidation and non-electrochemical reduction. Subsequently, in-situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure reveal that the Pd component accelerates the rate of the non-electrochemical reduction, thereby enhancing the stability of the Cu-based electrocatalyst. Finally, a bipolar hydrogen production device is assembled utilizing the PdCu electrocatalyst, which can deliver a current of 400 mA cm−2 at 0.42 V and operate continuously for 120 h. This work offers guidance to enhance the stability of the Cu-based electrocatalyst in a bipolar hydrogen production system. A low-potential dual-side hydrogen production system is more efficient than water splitting but suffers from stability issues. Here, the authors report a self-reactivating PdCu catalyst that operates stably for 120 h, offering an alternative solution for energy-efficient hydrogen production.