Electrocatalytic synthesis of adipic acid coupled with H2 production enhanced by a ligand modification strategy

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32769-0
• Publication Date: 2022-08-25T17:02:52Z
• Authors: Zhenhua Li; Xiaofan Li; Hua Zhou; Yan Xu; Si-Min Xu; Yue Ren; Yifan Yan; Jiangrong Yang; Kaiyue Ji; Li Li; Ming Xu; Mingfei Shao; Xianggui Kong; Xiaoming Sun; Haohong Duan
• Keywords: Adipic acid; Cyclohexanol

Adipic acid is an important building block of polymers, and commercially produced by thermo-catalytic oxidation ketone-alcohol oil (a mixture cyclohexanol cyclohexanone). However, this process heavily relies on the use corrosive nitric while releases nitrous oxide as a potent greenhouse gas. Herein, we report electrocatalytic strategy for cyclohexanone to adipic coupled with H2 production over nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) catalyst modified sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS). The intercalated SDS facilitates enrichment immiscible in aqueous medium, thus achieving 3.6-fold greater productivity higher faradaic efficiency (FE) compared pure Ni(OH)2 (93% versus 56%). This demonstrated effective variety aldehydes ketones solution. Furthermore, design realistic two-electrode flow electrolyzer electrooxidation coupling production, attaining 4.7 mmol 8.0 L at 0.8 A (corresponding 30 mA cm-2) 24 h.