Temperature-Induced Interface Hybridization of WC Boosts NiCu Activity for Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction.

The development of non-precious hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalysts is a major challenge for the commercialization of Pt-free fuel cells. Herein, a temperature-induced phase hybridization method is reported that greatly improves the catalytic performance of NiCu alloy for the HOR. The migration of W atoms hybridizes the interface of tungsten oxide (WO x ) and tungsten carbide (WC) at the onset reduction temperature of WO x , leading to a greatly weakened H binding energy and an optimized OH binding energy, which endows NiCuW/WO x -WC@WC with favorable stability and CO resistance during HOR. The hybridization catalysts deliver a high mass activity of 29.37 mA mg -1 Ni and reach a peak power of 298 mW.cm -2 in H 2 -O 2 anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs).