Upgrading ethylene via renewable energy-driven electrocatalysis

This study is led by Prof. Guoxiong Wang and Prof. Dunfeng Gao (Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences). The team has proposed that the renewable energy-driven electrosynthesis of ethylene oxide (EO) and ethylene glycol (EG), via ethylene originally from carbon dioxide (CO₂), is a more sustainable alternative to the current thermocatalytic route.

In the current chemical industry, ethylene is widely used to manufacture a variety of commercial chemicals. EO and EG used in the manufacture of plastics and antifreeze are currently produced through the selective oxidation of ethylene. Renewable energy-driven electrosynthesis of valuable chemicals under mild conditions has recently shown great promise in reducing carbon emission. Compared to the thermocatalytic route which uses ethylene produced via steam cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons, the electrocatalytic route remarkably improves environmental sustainability.

In this mini-review article, ethylene electrocatalytic oxidation is divided into three main reaction routes, namely direct electrocatalytic oxidation with water (EG as the main product), indirect electrocatalytic oxidation with halide mediators (EO as the main product), and tandem electrocatalytic and thermocatalytic oxidation with hydrogen peroxide intermediate (EG as the main product). Some representative catalyst systems and reactor designs are exemplified and their advantages and limitations are evaluated. Moreover, the review discusses the existing scientific and technical challenges of electrocatalytic ethylene upgrading in terms of reaction rate, selectivity, and long-term stability, and proposes future research directions and opportunities for pushing the process towards practical application.

See the article:

Upgrading ethylene via renewable energy-driven electrocatalysis

---

---