V activated electro-epoxidation catalyst in membrane electrode assembly system for the production of propylene oxide

Yan Lin, Hui Li, Xiaodong Miao, Yunayuan Sun, Hao Ren, Xifeng Yu, Wangyang Cui, Mingbo Wu and Zhongtao Li ()
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Yan Lin: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Hui Li: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Xiaodong Miao: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Yunayuan Sun: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Hao Ren: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Xifeng Yu: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Wangyang Cui: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Mingbo Wu: China University of Petroleum (East China)
Zhongtao Li: China University of Petroleum (East China)

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Direct electro-epoxidation of propylene (D-EOPO) with a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) system represents a sustainable approach for producing propylene oxide, which can reduce ohmic losses and simplify product separation. To address the challenges of selectivity and activity, we develop an Ag/V catalyst and integrate it into the “liquid-free” MEA reactor for continues D-EOPO. The V in the catalyst facilitates the formation of Ag-O active centers, thereby reducing the generation energy of *O radicals. Meanwhile, V doping also results in a downshift of the d-band center of the Ag sites. Consequently, the formation of the crucial intermediate (*OC3H6) is significantly accelerated through the coupling *O with adsorbed propylene, thereby markedly improving propylene oxide (PO) production. The MEA reactor, integrated with the developed Ag/V catalyst, can maintain a stable production rate of PO at 227 μmol/h over a period of 78 hours. Thus, the “liquid-free” electro-epoxidation protocol developed here exhibits greater industrial applicability.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58486-y

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