Mesoporous Cu Nanoplates with Exposed Cu+ Sites for Efficient Electrocatalytic Transfer Semi‐Hydrogenation of Alkynes

• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202423112
• Publication Date: 2025-01-13T09:12:02Z
• Authors: Hao Lv; Lizhi Sun; Deqing Tang; Ben Liu
• Keywords: Electrosynthesis; Transfer hydrogenation; Alkyne

Electrocatalytic transfer alkyne semi‐hydrogenation with H2O as hydrogen source is industrially promising for selective electrosynthesis of high value‐added alkenes while inhibiting byproduct alkanes. Although great achievements, their development has remarkably restricted by designing atomically sophisticated electrocatalysts. Here, we reported single‐crystalline mesoporous copper nanoplates (meso‐Cu PLs) a robust yet highly efficient electrocatalyst alkene from reaction in H2O. Anisotropic meso‐Cu PLs were prepared through facile epitaxial growth strategy functional C22H45N(CH3)2‐C3H6‐SH concurrent mesopore‐forming and structure‐controlled surfactant. Different to nonporous Cu counterparts flat surface, exposed abundant Cu+ sites, which not only stabilized active H* radicals electrocatalytic splitting without coupling into molecular H2 but also accelerated kinetically the desorption semi‐hydrogenated alkenes. With 4‐aminophenylacetylene (4‐AP) substrate, anisotropic delivered superior performance up 99% 4‐aminostyrene (4‐AS) selectivity 100% 4‐AP conversion well good cycle stability (6 cycles). Meanwhile, electrocatalytically applicable various alkynes. This work paved an alternative paradigm metal electrocatalysts structurally sites applied chemicals