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Gold–Copper Aerogels with Intriguing Surface Electronic Modulation as Highly Active and Stable Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Borohydride Oxidation
Author(s) -
Wang Jiali,
Chen Fuyi,
Jin Yachao,
Johnston Roy L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201800052
Subject(s) - nanoporous , catalysis , borohydride , copper , selectivity , alloy , aerogel , chemical engineering , materials science , chemistry , adsorption , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
We, for the first time, report the successful synthesis of self‐assembled AuCu aerogels by a one‐pot kinetically controlled approach. A startling electronic modulation effect of Cu on Au was observed across the entire alloy composition range, for which the optimal upshift of the d‐band center for the highest activities was 0.24 eV. Owing to the combination of a nanoporous architecture and a robust electronic effect, the Au 52 Cu 48 aerogels exhibited better catalytic performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the direct borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) than commercial Pt/C catalysts. The specific and mass ORR activities were 4.5 and 6.3 times higher, respectively, on the Au 52 Cu 48 aerogels than on Pt/C with negligible activity decay even after 10 000 cycles and a duration of 40 000 s. For the BOR, the Au 52 Cu 48 aerogels also exhibited far better selectivity and activity than Pt/C. The new AuCu aerogels show great potential as a promising alternative for Pt‐based catalysts in fuel cells.