Stabilizing Cu <sup>0</sup> ─Cu <sup>δ+</sup> Active Centers via Strong Metal–Support Interaction Enforced Intermetallic Cu <sub>3</sub> Pt‐Cu Heterointerfaces for Self–Powered Waste to Wealth Catalysis
ABSTRACT Developing a self–sustained catalytic system capable of transforming chemical wastes into useful fuels and chemicals represents a vital step toward sustainable energy conversion. Herein, we design strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) enforced intermetallic Cu 3 Pt‐Cu heterointerface that stabilize Cu 0 –Cu δ+ active centers by enabling ohmic contact and interfacial charge coupling. The formation of heterointerface of Cu 3 Pt‐Cu and coexistence of Cu 0 ─Cu δ+ dual states were directly evidenced by XAFS analysis, where wavelet transform contour plots revealed Cu─Cu and Cu─Pt scattering features alongside weak Cu–O features indicative of controlled partial oxidation of the Cu core. The stabilized Cu 0 ─Cu δ+ interfaces facilitate gem–diol mediated furfural oxidation and selective nitrate reduction by bidirectional H * regulation. The “Furfural–Nitrate” coupled self–powered galvanic cell was efficiently actuated by Cu 3 Pt‐Cu/CF bifunctional catalyst. The constructed cell achieves a near–theoretical open–circuit voltage of ∼0.76 V and record peak power density (19.31 mW cm −2 ) while producing NH 3 (FE 59.9%), H 2 (FE 72.1%), and furoic acid (FE 79.5%), yielding 12.13 kWh kg −1 electricity. This work establishes a strategy to tune interfacial electronic interactions via SMSI for kinetic–promoted electrocatalysis, achieving a benchmark for the innovative hydrogen–ammonia co–production system with simultaneous electricity generation.
Authors
- Zulakha Zafar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8308-7014)
- Rida Javed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2303-3866)
- Arunpandiyan Surulinathan
- Yong Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2179-3698)
- Ning Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8191-6744)
- Renfei Feng
- Zhiwei Ye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1218-0681)
- Bin Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2966-0876)
- Xin Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1318-8685)
- Jingqi Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3801-1189)
- Jing‐Li Luo
- Xian‐Zhu Fu
- Fuyu Liu
Institutions
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK)
- Shenzhen University (CN)
- Shenzhen Technology University (CN)
- Canadian Light Source (Canada) (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2026-01-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202531786
- Primary Topic
- Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00