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Partially reduced Ni2+, Fe3+-layered double hydroxide for ethanol electrocatalysis

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Abstract

Direct alcohol fuel cells can directly convert the chemical energy stored in small liquid alcohol molecules into electricity. The non-noble metal oxides and oxyhydroxides have poor electric conductivity, limiting their electrochemical performance. Herein, Ni3Fe/NiFe(OH)x heterostructure with Ni3Fe alloy nanoparticles confined in amorphous NiFe(OH)x matrix is facilely fabricated by partial reduction of Ni2+, Fe3+-layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) precursor in flowing hydrogen. Small Ni3Fe particles with about 4 nm diameter are clearly recognized after reduction at 250 °C. Further raising the reduction temperature to 350 °C results in a greater degree of segregation of Ni3Fe each other. Moreover, the 350 °C reduction causes the formation of NiFeOx, accompanied by vanishment of the NiFe(OH)x. Ethanol electrooxidation is carried out for evaluating the electrocatalytic performance of these samples. The electrocatalytic activity of NiFe-LDH precursor is enhanced by controlling H2 reduction at 250 °C. The high electrical conductivity, created by Ni3Fe metal alloy, is proposed to result in the high electrocatalytic activity of the Ni3Fe/Ni3Fe(OH)x heterostructure.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21376019, 21676013) and Beijing Engineering Center for Hierarchical Catalysts.

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Correspondence to Fazhi Zhang.

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Gao, Y., Zhao, Z., Jia, H. et al. Partially reduced Ni2+, Fe3+-layered double hydroxide for ethanol electrocatalysis. J Mater Sci 54, 14515–14523 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03964-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03964-0

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