A Catalytic Copper/Cobalt Oxide Interface for Efficient Hydrogen Generation

Metal nanoparticles and metal oxides promisingly provide different catalytic active sites at their interfaces. Constructing high-density interfaces is essential to maximize synergies. Herein, a Cu-Co3O4 nanoparticles interfacial structure produced via pyrolysis and moderate oxidation from metal-organic frameworks has been designed to boost the intrinsic activity. The Cu-Co3O4 nanoparticles composites exhibit a turnover frequency of 57.5 min(-1) for ammonia borane hydrolysis, far higher than those of monometallic Cu and Co3O4 nanoparticles, showing the synergistic effect of Cu and Co3O4 nanoparticles at their interface. Density functional theory calculations and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal the catalytic mechanism of dual active sites, in which Co3O4 nanoparticles at Cu-Co3O4 interface efficiently bind and activate water molecules and Cu nanoparticles easily activate NH3BH3 molecules. This study opens up a new pathway for achieving high-efficiency noble metal-free catalysts for hydrogen generation and other heterogeneous catalysis.