Managing electrolyte flow boosts the efficiency of continuous oxime electrosynthesis to over 95

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing
• Process Intensification

Background:

• Continuous flow electrochemistry offers sustainable synthesis routes but suffers from low efficiency due to mass transport limitations.
• Optimizing flow dynamics and electrode architecture is crucial for overcoming these limitations in two-phase boundary reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an effective flow management strategy for intensifying localized electrochemical processes in continuous flow systems.
• To demonstrate a novel electrolyzer structural optimization for improved mass transport and catalyst accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Implementing a flow-through channel architecture in the cathodic compartment to enhance electrolyte convection.
• Utilizing a cobalt single-atom catalyst for the electrosynthesis of cyclohexanone oxime.
• Precisely controlling electrolyte flow rate to balance feedstock supply and in situ generated intermediates.

Main Results:

• Achieved over 95% Faradaic efficiency for cyclohexanone oxime electrosynthesis, independent of operating conditions.
• Reached a single-pass conversion efficiency of up to 95% through optimized feedstock balancing.
• Demonstrated long-term operational stability for 110 hours without activity loss.

Conclusions:

• The developed flow management strategy effectively intensifies electrochemical processes by improving mass transport and catalyst utilization.
• This approach significantly enhances efficiency and stability in continuous flow electrosynthesis, showing great potential for industrial applications.