Zheng W, Li Y, Tsang CS, So PK, Yoon Suk Lee L. Stabilizer-free bismuth nanoparticles for selective polyol electrooxidation.
iScience 2021;
24:102342. [PMID:
34027316 PMCID:
PMC8134487 DOI:
10.1016/j.isci.2021.102342]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Bismuth is the least toxic element among heavy metals, an outstanding advantage for environmental and health considerations. Yet, utilizing bismuth as anodic electrocatalyst is hindered by the formation of a spreading Bi(OH)3 inhibitor layer during the anodic process. Herein, we report that bismuth nanoparticles, produced using laser ablation, can avoid such drawbacks. The production of Bi(V) species assists polyol electrooxidation. For glucose, instead of the commonly reported gluconic acid as the product, the Bi(V) species enables highly selective oxidation and C–C bond cleavage to produce arabinonic acid, erythronic acid, and eventually glyceric acid. We not only generate high-valent Bi(V) species for catalytic applications, especially for bioelectrocatalysis where the less toxic bismuth is highly appreciated, but also present Bi nanoparticle as a highly selective electrocatalyst that can break C–C bond. We believe that Bi electrocatalyst can find broader applications in electrochemical biomass conversion and electrosynthesis.
Stabilizer-free bismuth nanoparticles (Bi NPs) are synthesized by laser ablation
Bi NPs show activity toward polyol electrooxidation, breaking C-C bond
The in situ generated Bi(V) is essential for the electrocatalytic oxidation
Unlike Bi polycrystal, surface oxide layers do not inhibit the activity of Bi NPs
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