Electrocatalytic
oxidation of simple organic molecules offers a
promising strategy to combat the sluggish kinetics of the water oxidation
reaction (WOR). The low potential requirement, inhibition of the crossover
of gases, and formation of value-added products at the anode are benefits
of the electrocatalytic oxidation of organic molecules. Herein, we
developed cobalt–nickel-based layered double hydroxide (LDH)
as a robust material for the electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols
and urea at the anode, replacing the WOR. A facile synthesis protocol
to form LDHs with different ratios of Co and Ni is adapted. It demonstrates
that the reactants could be efficiently oxidized to concomitant chemical
products at the anode. The half-cell study shows an onset potential
of 1.30 V for benzyl alcohol oxidation reaction (BAOR), 1.36 V for
glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR), 1.33 V for ethanol oxidation reaction
(EOR), and 1.32 V for urea oxidation reaction (UOR) compared with
1.53 V for WOR. Notably, the hybrid electrolyzer in a full-cell configuration
significantly reduces the overall cell voltage at a 20 mA cm–2 current density by ∼15% while coupling with the BAOR, EOR,
and GOR and ∼12% with the UOR as the anodic half-cell reaction.
Furthermore, the efficiency of hydrogen generation remains unhampered
with the types of oxidation reactions (alcohols and urea) occurring
at the anode. This work demonstrates the prospects of lowering the
overall cell voltage in the case of a water electrolyzer by integrating
the hydrogen evolution reaction with suitable organic molecule oxidation.
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