title: In situ growth of Ni(x)Cu(1-x) alloy nanocatalysts on redox-reversible rutile (Nb,Ti)O₄ towards high-temperature carbon dioxide electrolysis.
abstract: In this paper, we report the in situ growth of Ni(x)Cu(1-x) (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0) alloy catalysts to anchor and decorate a redox-reversible Nb1.33Ti0.67O4 ceramic substrate with the aim of tailoring the electrocatalytic activity of the composite materials through direct exsolution of metal particles from the crystal lattice of a ceramic oxide in a reducing atmosphere at high temperatures. Combined analysis using XRD, SEM, EDS, TGA, TEM and XPS confirmed the completely reversible exsolution/dissolution of the Ni(x)Cu(1-x) alloy particles during the redox cycling treatments. TEM results revealed that the alloy particles were exsolved to anchor onto the surface of highly electronically conducting Nb1.33Ti0.67O4 in the form of heterojunctions. The electrical properties of the nanosized Ni(x)Cu(1-x)/Nb1.33Ti0.67O4 were systematically investigated and correlated to the electrochemical performance of the composite electrodes. A strong dependence of the improved electrode activity on the alloy compositions was observed in reducing atmospheres at high temperatures. Direct electrolysis of CO2 at the Ni(x)Cu(1-x)/Nb1.33Ti0.67O4 composite cathodes was investigated in solid-oxide electrolysers. The CO2 splitting rates were observed to be positively correlated with the Ni composition; however, the Ni0.75Cu0.25 combined the advantages of metallic nickel and copper and therefore maximised the current efficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Haoshan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China [2] Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Devices, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China [2] Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Devices, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China [2] Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Devices, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Yongqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Jiewu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China [2] Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Devices, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China [2] Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials and Devices, Hefei University of Technology, No.193 Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China.
authors.forename: Yucheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu