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The ethylene glycol oxidation reaction on nickel and ruthenium modified palladium nanocatalysts was investigated with electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, and chromatographic methods. These carbon‐supported materials, prepared by a revisited polyol approach, exhibited high activity towards the ethylene glycol electrooxidation in alkaline medium. Electrolysis coupled with high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS) and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) measurements allowed us to determine the different compounds electrogenerated in the oxidative conversion of this two‐carbon molecule. High value‐added products such as oxalate, glyoxylate, and glycolate were identified in all electrolytic solutions, whereas glyoxylate was selectively formed at the Ru45@Pd55/C electrode surface. In situ FTIRS results also showed a decrease in the pH value in the thin layer near the electrode as a consequence of OH− consumption during the spectroelectrochemical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selective electrochemical conversion of highly functionalized organic molecules into electricity, heat, and added-value chemicals for fine chemistry requires the development of highly selective, durable, and low-cost catalysts. Here, we propose an approach to make catalysts that can convert carbohydrates into chemicals selectively and produce electrical power and recoverable heat. A 100 % Faradaic yield was achieved for the selective oxidation of the anomeric carbon of glucose and its related carbohydrates (C1-position) without any function protection. Furthermore, the direct glucose fuel cell (DGFC) enables an open-circuit voltage of 1.1 V in 0.5 m NaOH to be reached, a record. The optimized DGFC delivers an outstanding output power Pmax=2 mW cm−2 with the selective conversion of 0.3 m glucose, which is of great interest for cogeneration. The purified reaction product will serve as a raw material in various industries, which thereby reduces the cost of the whole sustainable process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover Feature: Insight into the Electrooxidation Mechanism of Ethylene Glycol on Palladium-Based Nanocatalysts: In Situ FTIRS and LC-MS Analysis (ChemElectroChem 21/2020) Keywords: ethylene glycol; electrooxidation; energy conversion; fuel cells; heterogeneous catalysis EN ethylene glycol electrooxidation energy conversion fuel cells heterogeneous catalysis 4285 4285 1 11/16/20 20201102 NES 201102 B The Cover Feature b illustrates the mechanism of ethylene glycol electrooxidation at the surface of Pd-based catalysts. Ethylene glycol, electrooxidation, energy conversion, fuel cells, heterogeneous catalysis. [Extracted from the article]