Modulating product selectivity in lignin electroreduction with a robust metallic glass catalyst.

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Green Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Lignin valorization is crucial for sustainable chemical production.
• Efficient catalytic systems are needed for selective lignin depolymerization and hydrogenation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an electrocatalytic approach for simultaneous lignin depolymerization and hydrogenation.
• To achieve high selectivity towards value-added chemicals from lignin model compounds.
• To investigate the role of catalyst structure and electrolyte pH in reaction control.

Main Methods:

• Electrocatalysis using a metallic glass (MG) catalyst.
• Tuning electrolyte pH to control reaction pathways.
• Utilizing lignin model compounds to study depolymerization and hydrogenation.
• Assessing catalyst stability, activity, and recyclability over 100 cycles.

Main Results:

• Achieved >99% selectivity for acetophenone or 1-phenylethanol by adjusting pH.
• Demonstrated effective prevention of over-hydrogenation.
• The amorphous MG catalyst showed high stability, activity, and recyclability in ionic liquid electrolytes.
• Identified optimal substrate adsorption and product desorption balance for cascade hydrogenation.

Conclusions:

• The developed electrocatalytic system offers a versatile pathway for lignin upgrading.
• Electrolyte pH is a key parameter for controlling product selectivity in lignin conversion.
• Amorphous metallic glass catalysts show promise for integrated tandem reactions in biomass valorization.