Unlocking Efficient Electrosynthesis of α-Amino Acids: Adsorption Geometry Modulation and Electronic Structure...

Electrosynthesis of α-amino acids from α-keto acids is a promising strategy but faces challenges such as high reduction potential and limited efficiency due to sluggish reaction kinetics and competitive side reactions. Here, this study presents a bimetallic Ag/Cu nanowires (NWs) catalyst that effectively addresses these issues, demonstrating an exceptionally low onset-potential of -0.18 V versus RHE for alanine electrosynthesis and achieving a remarkable alanine yield of 690 µmol h^-1 cm^-2. The reaction reaches 94.71% conversion within 2.5 h and yields gram-scale alanine powder over ten cycles. Theoretical calculations reveal that Ag incorporation exerts additional weak interactions with intermediates and modulates their adsorption geometries. Simultaneously, electron transfer between Ag and Cu reconstructs the catalyst's electronic structure. These modifications enhance the adsorption and activation of intermediates, significantly lowering the energy barrier for the potential-determining step. Additionally, the presence of Ag effectively suppresses the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction, thus improving the selectivity for alanine production. This Ag/Cu NWs catalyst also exhibits broad applicability for synthesizing various α-amino acids. This study presents a novel strategy for enhancing electrosynthesis efficiency by modulating the catalyst's electronic properties and intermediate adsorption behaviors, providing valuable theoretical insights and technical support for sustainable chemical production.