Enhanced electrocatalytic nitrate reduction by preferentially-oriented (100) PtRh and PtIr alloys: the hidden treasures of the ‘miscibility gap’

摘要: Abstract Bimetallic alloys of Pt and Rh or Ir were prepared with pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on a well-ordered MgO(100) substrate, leading to epitaxial growth along the [001] plane, as confirmed by surface analysis techniques. The out-of-equilibrium conditions PLD allowed exploration range compositions for which phase separation would instead be expected. electrochemistry series PtRh PtIr (100) was investigated in 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 , showing surprisingly intense electrocatalytic activity towards reduction nitrate content 21–42%. These feature lower reaction overpotential respect while outperforming pure metals terms current. A detailed voltammetric features alloy composition highlighted correlation between hydrogen desorption activity. In addition, an optimal potential reduction, common alloys, observed, corresponding window adsorption coincides fast key intermediate NO ads .