Selective Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Biorenewable Polyols over Bimetal Catalysts

由于木质纤维素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预计将变得丰富，因此具有作为未来生产有价值的精细化学品的主要基石的巨大潜力。目前这些多元醇的非均相催化转化的关键挑战之一是催化剂选择性不理想，这主要是由于大部分未知的副反应。除了选择性差造成的问题外，这些含能有机化合物中储存的丰富化学能没有被直接利用。因此，显然需要制定创新战略，选择性地生产高价值化学品，并从这些多元醇中直接产生能源。密歇根州霍顿市密歇根理工大学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，并使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，在阴离子交换膜/水/金属界面上，控制电子和地理结构（控制大小、形状和结构）的双金属催化剂上施加控制的电势，将在阳极上提供有效的化学物质和生物可再生多元醇的电热电联产。电力的最初目标是为便携式电子设备提供足够的功率密度。李认为这项研究是一个定义电位，催化剂结构和选择性和活性的催化功能之间的关系，以便更好地利用系统。这项研究的成功将促进对选择性催化氧化的理解，并为通过电催化过程将生物可再生多元醇控制转化为高价值化学品开辟新的途径。它还将有助于开发可以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一个独特的学习催化、电化学、能源和纳米材料的智力环境。产生的结果将被纳入本科？燃料电池基础？当然，在密歇根理工大学使用？S现有的拓展项目，特别是暑期青年项目，其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.