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Sustained Direct Electro-epoxidation of Ethylene via a Strain-Gradient CuO-Ag Interface
Xifeng Yu1, Yong Zhao1, Sijia Liu1
1State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, P. R. China.
Nature Communications
|May 11, 2026
Summary
Engineered catalysts enhance direct electrochemical ethylene epoxidation using water. This sustainable method improves ethylene adsorption and stabilizes key intermediates for efficient ethylene oxide production.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Direct electrochemical ethylene epoxidation using water as an oxygen source presents a sustainable alternative to traditional thermal methods.
- Challenges include poor ethylene adsorption and instability of the crucial OO* intermediate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a catalyst that overcomes limitations in direct electrochemical ethylene epoxidation.
- To enhance ethylene adsorption and stabilize the OO* intermediate for efficient ethylene oxide (EO) production.
Main Methods:
- Engineering a CuO/Ag catalyst with coupled strain and electronic properties.
- Utilizing characterization and simulation techniques to understand interfacial mechanisms.
- Testing the catalyst in a membrane electrode assembly reactor.
Main Results:
- The engineered CuO/Ag catalyst promotes metastable Ag(111) facets, strengthening ethylene adsorption.
- A dual-reagent confinement system enriches water and ethylene at specific interfacial domains.
- Dynamic charge oscillations stabilize the OO* intermediate by inhibiting O-O bond cleavage.
- Achieved a stable ethylene oxide production rate of 345 μmol·cm⁻²·h⁻¹ over 60 hours with 45.6% Faradaic efficiency and 92.8% selectivity.
Conclusions:
- Interfacial strain and electronic properties engineering is a viable strategy for sustainable electrified synthesis.
- Demonstrated continuous direct epoxidation of ethylene with high efficiency and selectivity.
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