Alkali Metal Cation-Sulfate Anion Ion Pairs Promoted the Cleavage of C-C Bond During Ethanol Electrooxidation

Direct ethanol fuel cells show great promise as a means of converting biomass ethanol derived from biomass into electricity. However, the efficiency of complete conversion is hindered by the low selectivity in breaking the C-C bond. This selectivity is determined by factors such as the material structure and reaction conditions, including the nature of the supporting electrolyte. Cations serve not only as facilitators of electricity conduction through ion migration but also as influencers of the reaction pathways. In this study, we utilized differential electrochemical mass spectrometry to track the in situ generation of CO2 during potential scanning. The presence of alkali cations led to an enhancement in the CO2 selectivity. In addition, in situ Raman spectroscopy provided evidence of the formation of alkali metal cation-sulfate anion ion pairs. The catalytic activity and CO2 selectivity were found to be directly correlated to the ionic strength of these ion pairs.

Cation Effects on Interfacial Water Structure and Hydrogen Peroxide Reduction on Pt(111)

The interface between the Pt(111) surface and several MeF/HClO₄ (Me⁺ = Li⁺, Na⁺, or Cs⁺) aqueous electrolytes is investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry and laser-induced temperature jump experiments. Results point out that the effect of the electrolyte on the interfacial water structure is different depending on the nature of the metal alkali cation, with the values of the potential of maximum entropy (pme) following the order pme (Li⁺) < pme (Na⁺) < pme (Cs⁺). In addition, the hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction is studied under these conditions. This reaction is inhibited at low potentials as a consequence of the build up of negative charges on the electrode surface. The potential where this inhibition takes place (E _inhibition) follows the same trend as the pme. These results evidence that the activity of an electrocatalytic reaction can depend to great extent on the structure of the interfacial water adlayer and that the latter can be modulated by the nature of the alkali metal cation.

How cations affect the electric double layer and the rates and selectivity of electrocatalytic processes

Electrocatalysis is central to the production of renewable fuels and high-value commodity chemicals. The electrolyte and the electrode together determine the catalytic properties of the liquid/solid interface. In particular, the cations of the electrolyte can greatly change the rates and reaction selectivity of many electrocatalytic processes. For this reason, the careful choice of the cation is an essential step in the design of catalytic interfaces with high selectivity for desired high-value products. To make such a judicious choice, it is critical to understand where in the electric double layer the cations reside and the various distinct mechanistic impacts they can have on the electrocatalytic process of interest. In this perspective, we review recent advances in the understanding of the electric double layer with a particular focus on the interfacial distribution of cations and the cations' hydration states in the vicinity of the electrode under various experimental conditions. Furthermore, we summarize the different ways in which cations can alter the rates and selectivity of chemical processes at electrified interfaces and identify possible future areas of research in this field.

Carbon-neutral energy cycles using alcohols

We demonstrated carbon-neutral (CN) energy circulation using glycolic acid (GC)/oxalic acid (OX) redox couple. Here, we report fundamental studies on both catalyst search for power generation process, i.e. GC oxidation, and elemental steps for fuel generation process, i.e. OX reduction, in CN cycle. The catalytic activity test on various transition metals revealed that Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt have preferable features as a catalyst for electrochemical oxidation of GC. A carbon-supported Pt catalyst in alkaline conditions exhibited higher activity, durability, and product selectivity for electrooxidation of GC rather than those in acidic media. The kinetic study on OX reduction clearly indicated that OX reduction undergoes successive two-electron reductions to form GC. Furthermore, application of TiO₂ catalysts with large specific area for electrochemical reduction of OX facilitates the selective formation of GC.

Non-covalent interactions at electrochemical interfaces: one model fits all?

The shift with increasing concentration of alkali-metal cations of the potentials of both the spike and the hump observed in the cyclic voltammograms of Pt(111) electrodes in sulfuric acid solutions is shown to obey the simple model recently developed by us to explain the effect of non-covalent interactions at the electrical double layer. The results suggest that the model, originally developed to describe the effect of alkali-metal cations on the cyclic voltammogram of cyanide-modified Pt(111) electrodes, is of general applicability and can explain quantitatively the effect of cations on the properties of the electrical double layer.