Highly Selective Electrochemical Semi-Hydrogenation Via a Palladium Membrane Reactor
Sun, Minghao Xiao, Jiewen Yang, Yu Zhang, Wei Huang, Jialei Hao, Yawen Xiong, Jinqi Shi, Yaohui Zeng, Yifan Ozden, Adnan
Sun, Minghao
Xiao, Jiewen
Yang, Yu
Zhang, Wei
Huang, Jialei
Hao, Yawen
Xiong, Jinqi
Shi, Yaohui
Zeng, Yifan
Ozden, Adnan
Supervisor
Department
Machine Learning
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Type
Journal article
Date
2025
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Language
English
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Abstract
The selective semihydrogenation of alkynes is a critical industrial process, yet conventional palladium-based methods often suffer from overhydrogenation, leading to poor alkene selectivity. To address this, we report an electrochemical palladium membrane reactor that employs cysteamine, a simple aliphatic amino thiol, as a surface modifier. This system achieves >99% selectivity for the semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene to styrene at high current densities up to 300 mA/cm2, under ambient conditions and continuous electrolysis. Spectroscopic analysis and density functional theory calculations indicate that cysteamine forms a surface S2– adlayer, resulting in a competitive adsorption mechanism where the S2– species prevents styrene readsorption without impeding the initial hydrogenation of phenylacetylene. This work demonstrates a distinct and operationally simple strategy, using a specific sulfur modifier under continuous hydrogen flux, to achieve ultrahigh selectivity in a targeted alkyne semihydrogenation.
Citation
M. Sun et al., “Highly Selective Electrochemical Semi-Hydrogenation Via a Palladium Membrane Reactor,” Nano Lett, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.1021/ACS.NANOLETT.5C03140
Source
Nano Letters
Conference
Keywords
Semihydrogenation, Electrochemical Hydrogenation, Palladium Membrane Reactor, Phenylacetylene, Thiol-Modified
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Publisher
ACS Publications