A Catalytic Copper/Cobalt Oxide Interface for Efficient Hydrogen Generation
Wenjing Xu, Sheli Zhang, Ruofan Shen, Zhikun Peng, Baozhong Liu, Jun Li, Zhanying Zhang, Baojun Li
Abstract
Metal nanoparticles and metal oxides promisingly provide different catalytic active sites at their interfaces. Constructing high‐density interfaces is essential to maximize synergies. Herein, a Cu–Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles interfacial structure produced via pyrolysis and moderate oxidation from metal‐organic frameworks has been designed to boost the intrinsic activity. The Cu–Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles composites exhibit a turnover frequency of 57.5 min −1 for ammonia borane hydrolysis, far higher than those of monometallic Cu and Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles, showing the synergistic effect of Cu and Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles at their interface. Density functional theory calculations and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal the catalytic mechanism of dual active sites, in which Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles at Cu–Co 3 O 4 interface efficiently bind and activate water molecules and Cu nanoparticles easily activate NH 3 BH 3 molecules. This study opens up a new pathway for achieving high‐efficiency noble metal‐free catalysts for hydrogen generation and other heterogeneous catalysis.