Recent advances in the electrooxidation of biomass-based organic molecules for energy, chemicals and hydrogen production

Abstract

The recent developments in biomass-derivative fuelled electrochemical converters for electricity or hydrogen production together with chemical electrosynthesis have been reviewed.

Bromide-Regulated Anisotropic Growth of Desert-Rose-Like Nanostructured Gold onto Carbon Fiber Electrodes as Freestanding Electrocatalysts

“…This is significantly lower than that of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER, higher than 1.4 V vs RHE), so that the oxidation of those organic compounds instead of water at the anode in electrolyzers is expected to significantly lower the input energy. [18][19][20][21] Also, because the anode reaction only occurs in a potential range well below 1 V vs RHE, carbon fiber papers as support in anode were used in organic-fuelled reactors without concern for their oxidation. 18,22 This emerging research direction constitutes a meaningful option to advance the development of an efficient anode to be associated with the electricity-driven half-cell processes of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), and N2 reduction reaction (N2RR) for the production of valuable fuels and chemicals.…”

Bare laser-synthesized palladium–gold alloy nanoparticles as efficient electrocatalysts for glucose oxidation for energy conversion applications

“…1,2 Direct glucose fuel cells take advantage of glucose oxidation process, which leads to the generation of sustainable energy, accompanied by the production of added-value reaction products such as gluconic, glucuronic and glucaric acids. 3,4 Conventional biofuel cells use enzymes as electrocatalysts to initiate both the oxidation of glucose (anode) and the reduction of oxygen (cathode), but such cells require a permanent supply of dioxygen to regenerate cathode catalyst, which typically leads to a rapid (within a few weeks) degradation of cell performance. 5 The improvement of stability and catalytic characteristics of biofuel cells can be achieved by the employment of hybrid schemes, in which metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are used as electrocatalysts.…”

“…This compound is the main product detected from the glucose oxidation, as shown in recent investigations. 4,7 Here, the electrode should have a strong poisoning resistance during the whole procedure in order to withstand the deactivation phenomena during subsequent cycles.…”

Power-to-X in Denmark: An Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

“…Methanol and methane can be further processed to other liquid fuels if desired. Even though some of the technologies in the P2X value chain have been known for 100 years, the concept of production of electrofuels is relatively new [9]. However, activities have progressed at a considerably faster rate than had been predicted just a couple of years ago, with a total of 220 P2X research and demonstration projects in Europe either been realized, completed, or currently being planned as of June 2020 [10].…”