Modular multi-interface nanocrystals for enhanced ethanol oxidation electrocatalysis

Zhang, Zhiyong; Omidvar, Noushin; Zhang, Yulu; Chang, Xiaoxia; Wang, Hongsen; Liu, Chang; Johnson, Grayson; Hwang, Sooyeon T.; Ma, Lu; Abruña, Héctor D.; Xu, Bingjun; Xin, Hongliang; Zhang, Sen

doi:10.1016/j.matt.2025.102615

Title: Modular multi-interface nanocrystals for enhanced ethanol oxidation electrocatalysis

Journal Article · Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 UTC 2026 · Matter (Online)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102615 · OSTI ID:3023993

Zhang, Zhiyong ^[1]; Omidvar, Noushin ^[2]; Zhang, Yulu ^[1]; Chang, Xiaoxia ^[3]; Wang, Hongsen ^[4]; Liu, Chang ^[1]; Johnson, Grayson ^[1];

^[5]; Ma, Lu ^[6]; Abruña, Héctor D. ^[4]; Xu, Bingjun ^[3]; Xin, Hongliang ^[2];

^[1]

Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

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 Co₂P/Pd and Pd-Au heterostructured interfaces that exhibit complementary functions for the enhanced EOR catalysis. The Co₂P/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 Co₂P/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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Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 3023993

Report Number(s):: BNL-229591-2026-JAAM

Journal Information:: Matter (Online), Journal Name: Matter (Online) Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 9; ISSN 2590-2385

Publisher:: Cell Press/ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
electrocatalysis
ethanol oxidation
heterostructured interfaces
in situ
modular synthesis
spectroscopy

Title: Modular multi-interface nanocrystals for enhanced ethanol oxidation electrocatalysis

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