Search

Despite many recent efforts, the field of organic electrosyn‐thesis faces important challenges due to the intricate nature of heterogeneous redox processes, the wide parameter space to be explored and the lack of standardized methods. To overcome these limitations, we developed a cost‐effective high‐throughput electrochemical (HTE) reactor capable of running 24 individually controlled parallel reactions. This system allows the rapid testing of electrochemical parameters on a given reaction, assessing not only yield but also reproducibility. Using the hypervalent iodine‐mediated dearomatization of phloretic acid as a demonstration of HTE capabilities, we ran more than 200 electrosyntheses in different experimental conditions and demonstrate the effect of parameters such as total charge transferred, current, electrode materials, electrolyte formulation and concentration, mediator formulation and concentration and electrochemical technique of oxidation. Notably, this report demonstrates that while catalytic amounts of iodine mediator can be used successfully, the reproducibility may be affected, which calls for a cautious approach when developing similar transformations. Using cyclic voltammetry, density functional theory, chronopotentiometry, and Raman spectroscopy, we shed light on the causes of this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrification of the transport sector has created an increasing demand for lithium‐ion batteries that can provide high power intermittently while maintaining a high energy density. Given the difficulty in designing a single redox material with both high power and energy density, electrodes based on composites of several electroactive materials optimized for power or capacity are being studied extensively. Among others, fast‐charging LiFePO4 and high energy Li(NixMnyCoz)O2 are commonly employed in industrial cell manufacturing. This study focuses on comparing different approaches to combining these two active materials into a single electrode. These arrangements were compared using standard electrochemical (dis)charge procedures and using synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence to identify variations in solution concentration gradient formation. The electrochemical performance of the layered electrodes with the high‐power material on top is found to be enhanced relative to its blended electrode counterpart when (dis)charged at the same specific currents. These findings highlight dual‐layer lithium‐ion batteries as an inexpensive way of increasing energy and power density of lithium‐ion batteries as well as a model system to study and exploit the synergistic effects of blended electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The front cover of the journal ChemElectroChem showcases the potential of high-throughput electrosynthesis, with a researcher collecting the products with the highest yield. This method offers the opportunity to accelerate research by optimizing existing reactions and discovering new pathways. The cover is associated with a research article by Eric McCalla, Janine Mauzeroll, and their colleagues, which provides more information on this topic. [Extracted from the article]

CO 2 reduction offers an attractive alternative green synthetic route for ethylene, especially where CO 2 could be sourced from industrial exhausts and in combination with green power sources. However, practical applications are currently limited due to the unfortunately low selectivity of cathode materials towards ethylene. This work uses polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) to improve the performance of copper gas diffusion electrodes for CO 2 reduction to ethylene. We report an improved selectivity and activity towards ethylene with the addition of a thin PIMs layer, which is seen as improved Faradaic efficiency, increased stability and a shift in the reduction to lower overpotential. This improvement is highly dependent on the thickness of the added polymer layer, with too thick a layer having a detrimental impact on the hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion layer. With a compromise in loading, PIMs can be used to enhance the activity and selectivity of catalysts for targeted CO 2 reduction to ethylene., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)