Anion intercalation enables efficient and stable carboxylate upgrading via aqueous non-Kolbe electrolysis

Xinyan Zhang, Laihao Luo, Chunxiao Liu, Weiqing Xue, Yuan Ji, Donghao Zhao, Pengbo Liu, Xinran Feng, Jun Luo, Qiu Jiang, Tingting Zheng, Xu Li, Chuan Xia () and Jie Zeng ()
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Xinyan Zhang: University of Science and Technology of China
Laihao Luo: University of Science and Technology of China
Chunxiao Liu: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Weiqing Xue: University of Science and Technology of China
Yuan Ji: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Donghao Zhao: University of Science and Technology of China
Pengbo Liu: University of Science and Technology of China
Xinran Feng: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Jun Luo: University of Science and Technology of China
Qiu Jiang: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Tingting Zheng: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Xu Li: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Chuan Xia: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Jie Zeng: University of Science and Technology of China

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Next-generation techniques for sustainable carboxylate production generate carboxylate salts as the primary outcome. To circumvent the costly conversion of carboxylate salts to acids, we demonstrate the aqueous (non-)Kolbe electrolysis process as an alternative strategy to generate downstream value-added chemicals. Upon revealing the irreversible oxidation-induced charge transfer inhibition on the graphite anode, we propose an anion intercalation strategy to mitigate the stability problem induced by the ever-increasing overpotential. In acetate decarboxylation, we observe a high Faradaic efficiency of ~95% for non-Kolbe products (methanol and methyl acetate) at wide current densities ranging from 0.05 to 1 A cm−2 and long-term stability at current densities of 0.15 and 0.6 A cm−2 for 130 and 35 h, respectively. We also extended this strategy for the upgrading of long-chain carboxylates such as propionate, butyrate, and succinate. Our work provides valuable guidance for carboxylate upgrading and extendable strategy for overcoming passivation challenges in catalysis.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58924-x

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