Promoted C–C bond cleavage over intermetallic TaPt3 catalyst toward low-temperature energy extraction from ethanol

Abstract

Novel intermetallic TaPt₃ nanoparticles (NPs) are materialized, which exhibit much higher catalytic performance than state-of-the-art Pt₃Sn NPs for electrooxidation of ethanol. In situ infrared-reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) elucidates that the TaPt₃ NPs cleave the C–C bond in ethanol at lower potentials than Pt NPs, efficiently promoting complete conversion of ethanol to CO₂. Single-cell tests demonstrate the feasibility of the TaPt₃ NPs as a practical energy-extraction catalyst for ethanol fuels, with more than two times higher output currents than Pt-based cells at high discharge currents.