Direct Conversion of Methanol to Ethanol on the Metal‐Carbon Interface

Abstract

AbstractDirect conversion of one‐carbon (C1) compounds to two‐carbon (C2) and multi‐carbon compounds remains a critical challenge for converting non‐petroleum resources to valuable chemicals or fuels. The key issue is the selective activation of C1 compounds, methanol, as well as the controlled formation of carbon‐carbon (C−C) bonds. Herein, we achieve the direct electrocatalytic methanol to ethanol, an important chemical and energy candidate, with methanol conversion, ethanol selectivity, and faradic efficiency of 257.0 g ⋅ m−2 ⋅ h−1, 95.1 %, and 12.5 %, respectively. Furthermore, the appropriate participation of water, as a by‐product from methanol electrocatalysis, in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) facilitates electrocatalytic reaction of methanol. Mechanistic studies reveal hydroxymethyl and methyl radicals are formed on the electropositive low‐valent metal sites and electronegative carbon vacancies, respectively, and then combined with each other to form ethanol at the metal/carbon interface. This work opens a unique route for high‐efficient concerted redox conversion of methanol reactant to ethanol.