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Sn catalyst reconstruction and microenvironment modulation for efficient amino acid electrosynthesis via C-N coupling
Shuhe Han1, Huimin Liu2,3, Janis Timoshenko2
1Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Nature Communications
|April 21, 2026
Summary
Tin (Sn) effectively catalyzes glycine electrosynthesis, a green chemistry approach. This method enhances reaction rates and efficiency by optimizing interfacial hydrogenation over chain reactions at high current densities.
Area of Science:
- Green Chemistry
- Electrosynthesis
- Catalysis
Background:
- Conventional amino acid synthesis is energy-intensive.
- Electrosynthesis offers a sustainable alternative.
- Developing efficient catalysts is crucial for industrial application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify an effective catalyst for glycine electrosynthesis.
- To investigate the reaction mechanism at industrial current rates.
- To optimize conditions for high Faradaic efficiency and current density.
Main Methods:
- Electrosynthesis of glycine using tin (Sn) catalyst.
- Utilizing concentrated nitric acid and oxalic acid as feedstocks.
- In-situ characterization under acidic conditions and high current density (1 A cm⁻²).
Main Results:
- Tin (Sn) demonstrated effectiveness as a catalyst.
- Dynamic valence cycling and amorphous-Sn reconstruction were observed.
- High current promoted anionic states and intermediate adsorption, favoring interfacial hydrogenation.
- Achieved 93% Faradaic efficiency and 0.9 A cm⁻² partial current density for glycine.
Conclusions:
- Tin (Sn) is a viable catalyst for sustainable glycine electrosynthesis.
- Optimizing interfacial hydrogenation is key to enhancing reaction rates.
- The study demonstrates a promising pathway for industrial-scale green amino acid production.
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