Interfacial active sites on Co-Co_(2)C@carbon heterostructure for enhanced catalytic hydrogen generation

Designing catalysts with capable dual-active sites to drive catalytic hydrogen generation is necessary for the future hydrogen economy.Herein,the interfacial active sites consisting of Co and Co-C on Co-Co_(2)C@carbon heterostructure are designed through annealing and highpressure carbonization.The operating temperature during the high-pressure carbonization under a CO-reducing environment is responsible for the construction and regulation of Co-Co_(2)C@C heterostructure.The optimal catalyst has a high turnover frequency(TOF) of33.1 min^(-1) and low activation energy(E_a) of27.3 kJ-mol^(-1) during the hydrolysis of NH_(3)BH_(3).The catalytic stability of Co-Co_(2)C@C has no dramatic deterioration even after 5 cyclic usages.The interfacial active sites and the carbon on the catalyst surface enhance hydrogen generation kinetics and catalytic stability.The construction of interfacial active sites in Co-Co_(2)C@C prompts the dissociation of reactants(NH_(3)BH_(3) and H_(2)O molecules),leading to an enhanced catalytic hydrogen generation from NH_(3)BH_(3) hydrolysis(Co activates NH_(3)BH_(3) and Co-C activates H_(2)O).The construction of hetero-structural catalysts provides theoretical direction for the rational design of advanced transition metal carbide materials in the field of energy catalysis and conversion.