Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98.1% for acetate at 100 mA cm−2, demonstrating that high selectivity is maintained under industrially relevant current densities, a critical threshold for economic viability. • • Peak partial current density of 291.2 mA cm−2 for ethanol oxidation, exceeding typical spinel oxide catalysts (<50 mA cm−2) by nearly sixfold, enabling compact electrolyzer design and reduced capital expenditure. • • Stability over 100 h without significant degradation, addressing the durability bottleneck that plagues most transition metal-based catalysts and supporting continuous industrial operation. • • In-situ ATR-SEIRAS evidence that Pt and Ag co-modification moderates *OH generation and inhibits *OH to *O conversion, directly linking surface water dissociation kinetics to improved selectivity and providing a design principle for future catalysts.
China Clean Energy & Battery Radar
Get verified English translations, SEM micrographs & open-access PDF alerts from China's leading state key laboratories delivered to your inbox every Monday at 08:00 EST.
Abstract
Electrochemical valorization of ethanol to acetate offers a low-potential alternative to oxygen evolution, but industrial adoption is constrained by insufficient current density and catalyst durability. This work reports FeCoNiOx spinel oxides co-modified with Pt and Ag (FeCoNiOx-PtAg) that enhance interfacial water dissociation to generate moderate *OH coverage while suppressing *OH over-oxidation to *O. The catalyst achieves a maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 98.1% for acetate at 100 mA cm−2, a peak partial current density of 291.2 mA cm−2, and stability exceeding 100 h. In-situ attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) reveals that Pt and Ag co-modification regulates water dissociation, maintaining *OH at levels optimal for nucleophilic attack on CH3CO* intermediates. Techno-economic analysis confirms that the paired ethanol oxidation and hydrogen evolution system is cost-effective and low-carbon. The results establish a viable pathway for selective ethanol electrooxidation to acetate at industrially relevant current densities.
1. Introduction
Acetate production currently relies on energy-intensive methanol/ethane carbonylation and ethylene oxidation, which operate at high temperatures and pressures, generating substantial environmental pollution. The global acetate market, projected at 1.5 trillion USD, demands a sustainable route. Electrochemical ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) to acetate offers a four-electron pathway at lower potential than oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and when paired with cathodic hydrogen evolution, it enhances electron efficiency and atom economy. However, existing electrocatalysts for EOR suffer from low current densities (<50 mA cm−2) and poor stability, failing to meet industrial requirements. The key challenge lies in controlling the supply of *OH from water dissociation: sufficient *OH is needed for nucleophilic attack on CH3CO* to form acetate, but excessive *OH can deactivate to *O, reducing selectivity.
This study addresses the bottleneck by designing FeCoNiOx spinel oxides complexed with Pt and Ag. The co-modification regulates interfacial water dissociation to maintain moderate *OH coverage, thereby promoting ethanol conversion to acetate while suppressing over-oxidation. The catalyst achieves 98.1% FE at 100 mA cm−2, a partial current density of 291.2 mA cm−2, and 100 h stability. In-situ ATR-SEIRAS elucidates the reaction pathway, confirming that Pt and Ag synergistically inhibit *OH to *O conversion. Techno-economic analysis further validates the paired system as a cost-effective, low-carbon route for acetate and green hydrogen production.
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
YANG Chunqi, YANG Rui, FAN Yue, DU Dantong, DONG Yuxuan, HU Yifan, ZHANG Kaiyue, LUO Lingli, LI Yuhang, LI Chunzhong (2025). Ag/Pt co-modified FeCoNiOx spinel oxides enhancing interface water dissociation to boost selective ethanol electrooxidation to acetate. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3411-3
Research & Educational Purpose Only: The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoGreenTechare intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoGreenTech claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the failure mechanism under prolonged operation, and how does the catalyst mitigate it?
The primary failure mechanism in spinel oxide catalysts for ethanol oxidation is the over-oxidation of *OH to *O, which reduces selectivity and leads to surface reconstruction. FeCoNiOx-PtAg mitigates this by Pt and Ag co-modification, which moderates water dissociation and maintains *OH at optimal levels, as confirmed by in-situ ATR-SEIRAS. The catalyst demonstrates stability over 100 h, with no significant degradation in FE or current density.
How does the cost of this system compare to conventional acetate production?
Techno-economic analysis indicates that the paired ethanol oxidation and hydrogen evolution system is cost-effective and low-carbon. While exact cost parity metrics are not disclosed, the system operates at 100 mA cm−2 with 98.1% FE, reducing electricity consumption per ton of acetate. The co-production of green hydrogen further improves economics, offsetting operational costs.
What are the scalability bottlenecks for industrial deployment?
Scalability bottlenecks include maintaining uniform Pt and Ag dispersion on FeCoNiOx at large electrode areas and managing mass transport at 291.2 mA cm−2. The 100 h stability at 100 mA cm−2 suggests promise, but long-term (>1000 h) tests at industrial current densities (>300 mA cm−2) are needed. Electrode fabrication methods must ensure consistent water dissociation regulation across large surfaces.
What is the role of Pt and Ag in enhancing water dissociation?
Pt and Ag co-modification alters the electronic environment of FeCoNiOx, facilitating water dissociation to generate *OH. Pt provides sites for water activation, while Ag inhibits the conversion of *OH to *O, as evidenced by ATR-SEIRAS. This synergy ensures a sufficient *OH supply for nucleophilic attack on CH3CO* to form acetate, boosting FE to 98.1%.
What are the implications of the 291.2 mA cm−2 partial current density for industrial electrolyzer design?
A partial current density of 291.2 mA cm−2 enables high-throughput acetate production with reduced electrode area, lowering capital costs. It allows operation at industrially relevant current densities without sacrificing selectivity (98.1% FE). This performance exceeds typical spinel oxides by nearly sixfold, making the system competitive with noble-metal-based catalysts.
Related Chinese Research & Cross-Citations
Ammonium Vanadate Cathodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Design Strategies and Research Progress
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a compelling combination of high safety, environmental compatibility, and abundant zinc resources, positioning them as viable candidates for grid-scale energy storage. Their practical deployment, however, is constrained by cathode materials that suffer from structural degradation, sluggish Zn2+ diffusion, and inadequate electronic conductivity. Ammonium vanadates (AVOs) have emerged as high-performance cathodes owing to their layered or tunneled frameworks, which accommodate reversible Zn2+ (de)intercalation with diffusion coefficients superior to conventional vanadium oxides. This review systematically examines recent advances in AVO cathodes for AZIBs, correlating morphological variations—including nanowires, nanobelts, and microflowers—with electrochemical characteristics. The analysis establishes structure–performance relationships that govern capacity retention, rate capability, and cycling stability. Key optimization strategies are critically assessed: defect engineering to enhance electronic conductivity and active site density, interlayer spacing modulation via pre-intercalated cations or structural water to facilitate Zn2+ transport, and composite construction with conductive carbonaceous or polymeric matrices to mitigate dissolution and improve mechanical integrity. Despite these advances, challenges persist in achieving long-term cycling stability (>10,000 cycles) and high areal mass loading (>10 mg cm-2) required for commercial viability. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including operando characterization of degradation mechanisms and scalable synthesis routes for AVO cathodes in practical AZIB configurations.
Microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platforms: Innovations for spinal cord injury repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a formidable clinical challenge due to the complex, dynamic lesion microenvironment that impedes axonal regeneration and functional recovery. This highlight examines a microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platform integrating microneedle delivery, ferroptosis modulation, and hydrogen therapy. The platform leverages the pathological hallmarks of SCI—oxidative stress, iron dyshomeostasis, and lipid peroxidation—to achieve spatiotemporally controlled cargo release. By combining microneedle arrays for minimally invasive intraparenchymal administration with hydrogen-releasing biomaterials, the system addresses the dual bottlenecks of poor drug penetration across the blood-spinal cord barrier and insufficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis inhibition is achieved through iron chelation and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) stabilization, while hydrogen gas scavenges hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. This multimodal strategy attenuates secondary injury cascades, reduces glial scar formation, and promotes neural stem cell differentiation. The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82574518) and the Talent Cultivation Project of Paring Academicians with Young Talents in higher education institutions in Zhejiang. The authors declare no conflict of interest. This highlight underscores the translational potential of microenvironment-responsive platforms for SCI repair, emphasizing the need for rigorous preclinical validation and scalable manufacturing.
Dual-Site Adsorption over Phosphorus-Doped Copper Oxide for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethylene
Electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising route for renewable electricity storage, yet achieving high ethylene selectivity at industrial current densities remains challenging due to the large energy barrier for C–C coupling. Here, we report a “MOF-assisted in situ doping” strategy to introduce the oxophilic nonmetal phosphorus (P) into the copper oxide (CuO) lattice, constructing a localized Cu–P dual-site adsorption configuration for the key *OCCHO intermediate. The optimized catalyst delivers an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 64.6% for ethylene with a partial current density of 646 mA cm-2. Comprehensive structural characterizations demonstrate that P mainly occupies Cu sites, generating abundant lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. In situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that P doping modulates the electronic structure of Cu, optimizes the binding energies of *CO and *CHO, and stabilizes *OCCHO via P–O/Cu–C dual-site adsorption, thereby significantly lowering the asymmetric C-C coupling energy barrier to 0.74 eV. This work highlights a dual-site microenvironment regulation strategy for CO2-to-ethylene electroreduction.
Hydrophilic Single-Atom Interface Unlocks Low-Potential CO Removal on Pt in PEMFCs
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fed with reformate hydrogen suffer severe anode poisoning by trace CO, necessitating high CO electrooxidation potentials that degrade performance and durability. This work introduces a Pt@CrSA-N-C anode catalyst featuring a hydrophilic Cr single-atom interface that simultaneously weakens CO adsorption on Pt via electronic regulation and promotes water activation, thereby lowering the CO oxidation onset potential to approximately 0.13 V vs. RHE. The onset potential was determined by two independent methods: the first potential at which the background-corrected current exceeds 0 mA cm-2 during CO oxidation reaction tests in a three-electrode system, and the potential at which the forward scan current exceeds the N2 background current in CO-stripping voltammetry. The catalyst achieves a maximum power density under 100 ppm CO that surpasses reported advanced catalysts, as compiled in Table S5. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterizations collectively establish a coherent rationale for the hydrophilic single-atom interface strategy. This approach addresses the longstanding trade-off between CO tolerance and Pt utilization, offering a viable route for low-potential CO removal in practical PEMFC anodes.
An Ionoelastomer-Based Bioinspired Wearable Electronics with Tele-Perception and Tactile Sensation for Machine Learning-Assisted Rehabilitation Management
Comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation efficiency is essential for designing appropriate training programs for better musculoskeletal functional recovery. Existing contact-receptor-dependent rehabilitation assessment systems mostly focus on assessing the restoration of muscle function by evaluating grip strength or joint flexion angle; however, parameters reflecting neuromuscular synergistic function are always overlooked. Herein, we develop an ionoelastomer-based soft artificial electroreceptor (SAER) that integrates tele-perception and tactile sensation to track the rehabilitation process, collecting signals related to approaching speed and grip strength sequentially. The SAER uses polyurethane ionoelastomer incorporated with quasi-solid conductive salt as the electric field receptor, and is integrated on a rehabilitation-training ball after assembly to establish an untethered detection device; this enables the remote capture of hand approaching parameter within a 9 cm range, followed by the quantification of grip strength when contacting and grasping. Furthermore, a data-driven assessment system is established by integrating machine learning, which accurately classifies rehabilitation efficiency into six levels; it supports for rehabilitation evaluation and training programs adjustment. Overall, the SAER-based rehabilitation management system establishes a paradigm that synergistically evaluating parameters corresponding to neuromuscular functional restoration and holds strong potential for home-based active rehabilitation for minimizing dependence on frequent clinical supervision.
Microwave-Absorbing Materials with Strong Environmental Adaptability for Corrosion Protection, Anti-Icing, and Thermal Management
Microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) deployed on naval vessels, aerospace vehicles, and critical electronic systems face coupled electromagnetic, marine salt-spray corrosion, and extreme-temperature loads that legacy single-function absorbers cannot withstand. This review consolidates progress on three environmentally adaptive MAM classes: corrosion-protective, anti-icing, and thermal-management absorbers. The electromagnetic loss and impedance-matching fundamentals are first established, then the synergistic mechanisms, design strategies, and characterization protocols for each class are examined against representative material systems and their measured performance. The analysis identifies a shared design logic—multiscale hierarchical architecture, interfacial polarization engineering, and multifunctional phase integration—while distinguishing the divergent protection mechanisms: barrier and passivation effects for corrosion, surface-energy and latent-heat regulation for anti-icing, and phonon–electron transport decoupling for thermal management. Persistent bottlenecks include the trade-off between impedance matching and protective-layer density, the absence of standardized coupled-field test protocols, and the scarcity of long-term salt-spray and thermal-cycling durability data. Future directions are delineated: intelligent self-adaptive absorbers, multiphysics-coupled simulation frameworks, and environmentally benign multifunctional integration. The review provides a theoretical and technical basis for the design, construction, and engineering scale-up of next-generation high-performance absorbers for aerospace, electronic, and marine equipment.