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DOE OSTI · 3023993

Modular multi-interface nanocrystals for enhanced ethanol oxidation electrocatalysis

Zhang, Zhiyong [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)]·Omidvar, Noushin [Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)]·Zhang, Yulu [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)]·Chang, Xiaoxia [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)]·Wang, Hongsen [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)]·Liu, Chang [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)]·Johnson, Grayson [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)]·Hwang, Sooyeon T. [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)] (ORCID:0000000156066728)·Ma, Lu [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)]·Abruña, Héctor D. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)]·Xu, Bingjun [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)]·Xin, Hongliang [Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)]·Zhang, Sen [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000217163741)
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Abstract

Electrochemical processes that utilize biomass-derived ethanol as a source of electrons and protons offer a sustainable energy strategy, yet their practical implementation is limited by sluggish ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) kinetics and catalyst poisoning. Here, in this study, we report a modular multi-interface nanocrystal catalyst comprising core/shell Co 2 P/Pd and Pd-Au heterostructured interfaces that exhibit complementary functions for the enhanced EOR catalysis. The Co 2 P/Pd interface boosts Pd atom utilization and lowers the kinetic barriers for ethanol-to-acetate conversion, while the Pd-Au interface effectively alleviates CO poisoning caused by C–C bond cleavage of ethanol. In-depth analyses using in situ attenuated total reflectance-surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, differential electrochemical mass spectrometry, and density functional theory calculations elucidate the mechanistic roles of these interfaces. The optimized Co 2 P/Pd-Au 0.08 nanorods achieve an excellent mass activity, underscoring the potential of modular, multi-interface nanocrystals for advancing EOR catalysis and offering a generalizable strategy for broader catalytic innovations.

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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATIONelectrocatalysisethanol oxidationheterostructured interfacesin situmodular synthesisspectroscopy

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Zhang, Zhiyong [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)], Omidvar, Noushin [Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)], Zhang, Yulu [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)], Chang, Xiaoxia [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)], Wang, Hongsen [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)], Liu, Chang [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)], Johnson, Grayson [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)], Hwang, Sooyeon T. [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)] (ORCID:0000000156066728), Ma, Lu [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)], Abruña, Héctor D. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)], Xu, Bingjun [Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)], Xin, Hongliang [Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)], Zhang, Sen [Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000217163741). 2026-02-20. Modular multi-interface nanocrystals for enhanced ethanol oxidation electrocatalysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102615

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