Selective Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Biorenewable Polyols over Bimetal Catalysts

由于木质纤维生物质转化和生物燃料生产，甘油、木糖醇和山梨醇等生物可再生多元醇有望变得丰富，因此具有作为未来生产有价值的精细化学品的主要基础材料的巨大潜力。目前这些多元醇多相催化转化的关键挑战之一是催化剂的选择性不令人满意，这主要是由于很大程度上未知的副反应。除了选择性差带来的问题外，这些含能有机化合物中储存的丰富化学能量没有得到直接利用。因此，显然有必要开发有选择地生产高价值化学品并直接从这些多元醇中产生能源的创新策略。密歇根大学霍顿分校的李文珍教授建议研究多元醇的水相选择性电催化氧化，以控制高价值化学品的生产，并利用基于双金属催化剂的阴离子交换膜燃料电池同时发电。研究假设是，在阴离子交换膜/水/金属界面上施加电子和地理结构(大小、形状和结构可控)可调的双金属催化剂上的控制电位，将在阳极处提供高效的化学物质和生物可再生多元醇的电能。电力的最初目标是为便携式电子产品提供足够的功率密度。李认为，这项研究是为了更好地利用系统的选择性和活性来确定电位、催化剂结构和催化功能之间的关系。这项研究的成功将加深对选择性催化氧化的理解，并为通过电催化过程控制生物可再生多元醇转化为高价值化学品开辟一条新的途径。它还将有助于开发可直接使用生物可再生燃料的高效电化学能源装置。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供学习催化、电化学、能源和纳米材料的独特智力环境。所产生的结果将被纳入本科生？燃料电池基础？课程，并在密歇根理工大学使用了S现有的外展计划，特别是暑期青年计划，在该计划中，大多数学生来自代表性不足的群体。

Biorenewable polyols such as glycerol, xylitol, and sorbitol are expected to become abundant as a result of lignocellulosic biomass conversion and biofuel production, and thus have great potential to serve as the primary building-blocks for future production of valuable fine chemicals. One of the critical challenges in current heterogeneous catalytic conversions of these polyols is the unsatisfactory catalyst selectivity, which is mainly due to largely unknown side reactions. In addition to the problems resulting from poor selectivity, the rich chemical energy stored in these energetic organic compounds is not directly utilized. Thus, there is a clear need to develop innovative strategies for selective production of high-value chemicals and direct generation of energy from these polyols.Professor Wenzhen Li at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI proposes to investigate aqueous-phase selective electrocatalytic oxidation of polyols for the controlled production of higher-valued chemicals and the simultaneous generation of electricity using anion exchange membrane fuel cells based on bimetallic catalysts. The research hypotheses are that controlled electric potential applied on bimetallic catalysts with tuned electronic and geographic structures (controlled size, shape and structure) at the anion exchange membrane /water/metal interface will offer efficient cogeneration of chemicals and electricity from biorenewable polyols at the anode. Initial target for electricity is enough power density for portable electronics. Li sees the study as one defining the relationships between electric potential, catalyst structure and catalytic functions of selectivity and activity so as to better capitalize on the systems.Success of this research will advance understanding of selective catalytic oxidation, and open a new avenue for controlled conversion of biorenewable polyols to high-value chemicals through electrocatalysis processes. It will also contribute to the development of efficient electrochemical energy devices that can directly use biorenewable fuels. This project will provide graduate and undergraduate students with a unique intellectual environment to learn catalysis, electrochemistry, energy, and nanomaterials. The generated results will be incorporated into the undergraduate ?Fuel Cell Fundamental? course, and used in Michigan Tech?s existing outreach programs, especially the summer youth program, in which the majority of students are from under-represented groups.