Efficient electrosynthesis of formamide from carbon monoxide and nitrite on a Ru-dispersed Cu nanocluster catalyst

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 2870 - 10
• Main Authors: Lan, Jiao, Wei, Zengxi, Lu, Ying-Rui, Chen, DeChao, Zhao, Shuangliang, Chan, Ting-Shan, Tan, Yongwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 19.05.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 119/118; 140/146; 147/135; 147/137; 639/301/299/161; 639/301/299/886; Absorption spectroscopy; Carbon monoxide; Carbon neutrality; Catalysts; Chemical reactions; Chemical synthesis; Conversion; Coupling (molecular); Density functional theory; Development strategies; Electrochemistry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Intermediates; multidisciplinary; Nanoclusters; Nitrites; Nitrogen compounds; Nitrogen dioxide; Organic nitrogen; Raman spectroscopy; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spectrum analysis; Sustainability; Sustainable development; X ray absorption; X-ray absorption spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38603-5

Conversion into high-value-added organic nitrogen compounds through electrochemical C-N coupling reactions under ambient conditions is regarded as a sustainable development strategy to achieve carbon neutrality and high-value utilization of harmful substances. Herein, we report an electrochemical process for selective synthesis of high-valued formamide from carbon monoxide and nitrite with a Ru 1 Cu single-atom alloy under ambient conditions, which achieves a high formamide selectivity with Faradaic efficiency of 45.65 ± 0.76% at −0.5 V vs. RHE. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, coupled with in situ Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations results reveal that the adjacent Ru-Cu dual active sites can spontaneously couple *CO and *NH 2 intermediates to realize a critical C-N coupling reaction, enabling high-performance electrosynthesis of formamide. This work offers insight into the high-value formamide electrocatalysis through coupling CO and NO 2 − under ambient conditions, paving the way for the synthesis of more-sustainable and high-value chemical products. Conversion into high-value-added organic nitrogen compounds through electrochemical C-N coupling reactions is considered a sustainable strategy to achieve carbon neutrality. Herein, we report the selective electrosynthesis of formamide from carbon monoxide and nitrite using Ru 1 Cu single-atoms catalyst.