No abstract

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation is increasingly studied as an alternative to integrate the use of recycled carbon feedstocks with renewable energy sources. However, the abundant empiric observations available have not been correlated with fundamental properties of substrates and catalysts. In this study, we investigated electrocatalytic hydrogenation of a homologues series of carboxylic acids, ketones, phenolics, and aldehydes on a variety of metals (Pd, Rh, Ru, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Co). We found that the rates of carbonyl reduction in aldehydes correlate with the corresponding binding energies between the aldehydes and the metals according to the Sabatier principle. That is, the highest rates are obtained at intermediate binding energies. The rates of H2 evolution that occur in parallel to hydrogenation also correlate with the H-metal binding energies, following the same volcano-type behavior. Within the boundaries of this model (e.g., compounds reactive at room temperature and without important steric effects over the carbonyl group), the reported correlations help to explain the complex trends derived from the experimental observations, allowing for the correlation of rates with binding energies and the differentiation of mechanistic routes.

Copper nanoparticles have been prepared by the solvated metal atom dispersion (SMAD) method. Oxidation of the SMAD prepared copper colloids resulted in Cu@Cu(2)O core shell structures (7.7 +/- 1.8 nm) or Cu(2)O nanoparticles depending on the reaction conditions. The nano Cu, Cu@Cu(2)O core shell, and Cu(2)O particles were found to be catalytically active for the generation of hydrogen from ammonia-borane either via hydrolysis or methanolysis reaction.

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation and catalytic thermal hydrogenation of substituted phenols and diaryl ethers were studied on carbon-supported Rh. The rates of electrocatalytic hydrogenation increase with increasingly negative potentials, which have been related with the coverage of adsorbed hydrogen. The lowest and highest negative potentials in electrocatalytic hydrogenation correspond to the onset of H 2 evolution and to the onset of reactions involving the electrolyte, respectively. For electrocatalytic and catalytic thermal hydrogen addition reactions, the dominant reaction pathway is hydrogenation to cyclic alcohols and cycloalkyl ethers. The presence of substituting methyl or methoxy groups led to lower rates compared to unsubstituted phenol or diphenyl ether. Methoxy or benzyloxy groups, however, undergo CO bond cleavage via hydrogenolysis and hydrolysis (minor pathway). The surface chemical potential of hydrogen can be increased also by generating a H 2 atmosphere above the reaction media, supporting the conclusion that thermal and electrochemical routes share the same reaction pathways.