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Ethylene electrosynthesis from low-concentrated acetylene via concave-surface enriched reactant and improved mass transfer

Author

Listed:
  • Fanpeng Chen

    (Tianjin University)

  • Li Li

    (Tianjin University)

  • Chuanqi Cheng

    (Tianjin University)

  • Yifu Yu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Bo-Hang Zhao

    (Tianjin University
    Tianjin University)

  • Bin Zhang

    (Tianjin University)

Abstract

Electrocatalytic semihydrogenation of acetylene (C2H2) provides a facile and petroleum-independent strategy for ethylene (C2H4) production. However, the reliance on the preseparation and concentration of raw coal-derived C2H2 hinders its economic potential. Here, a concave surface is predicted to be beneficial for enriching C2H2 and optimizing its mass transfer kinetics, thus leading to a high partial pressure of C2H2 around active sites for the direct conversion of raw coal-derived C2H2. Then, a porous concave carbon-supported Cu nanoparticle (Cu-PCC) electrode is designed to enrich the C2H2 gas around the Cu sites. As a result, the as-prepared electrode enables a 91.7% C2H4 Faradaic efficiency and a 56.31% C2H2 single-pass conversion under a simulated raw coal-derived C2H2 atmosphere (~15%) at a partial current density of 0.42 A cm−2, greatly outperforming its counterpart without concave surface supports. The strengthened intermolecular π conjugation caused by the increased C2H2 coverage is revealed to result in the delocalization of π electrons in C2H2, consequently promoting C2H2 activation, suppressing hydrogen evolution competition and enhancing C2H4 selectivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Fanpeng Chen & Li Li & Chuanqi Cheng & Yifu Yu & Bo-Hang Zhao & Bin Zhang, 2024. "Ethylene electrosynthesis from low-concentrated acetylene via concave-surface enriched reactant and improved mass transfer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50335-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50335-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mengjun Wang & Jun Jia & Jing Xia & Chun-Kuo Peng & Jinxin He & Yueming Qiu & Yuting He & Le Gao & Fei Xue & Yan-Gu Lin & Guowu Zhan & Yuzheng Guo & Xiaoqing Huang & Yong Xu, 2025. "CO2 hydrogenation to HCOOH catalyzed by aqueous Pd needle assembly," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Chuanqi Cheng & Jiajun Wang & Fanpeng Chen & Yanran Han & Yichen He & Bin Zhang & Bo-Hang Zhao, 2025. "Selective electrosynthesis of 1,3-butadiene by tailoring the coverage of acetylene and water," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.

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