Revisiting Pt foil catalysts for formamide electrosynthesis achieved at industrial-level current densities

Xinzhong Wang, Yiwen Su, Jiashu Chen, Edward Hengzhou Yan, Qing Xia, Jie Wu, Shanhe Gong, Mingcong Tang, Wai Sze Yip, Yongbiao Mu, Yuyang Yi, Jinjin Wu, Fujing Xu, Xianzhong Yang, Xiao Zhang (), Shixue Dou (), Jingyu Sun () and Guangping Zheng ()
Additional contact information
Xinzhong Wang: Hung Hom
Yiwen Su: Hung Hom
Jiashu Chen: Hung Hom
Edward Hengzhou Yan: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Qing Xia: Hung Hom
Jie Wu: Hung Hom
Shanhe Gong: Hung Hom
Mingcong Tang: Hung Hom
Wai Sze Yip: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Yongbiao Mu: Southern University of Science and Technology
Yuyang Yi: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Jinjin Wu: Hung Hom
Fujing Xu: Hung Hom
Xianzhong Yang: University of Shanghai for Science and Technology
Xiao Zhang: Hung Hom
Shixue Dou: University of Shanghai for Science and Technology
Jingyu Sun: Soochow University
Guangping Zheng: Hung Hom

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Current electrosynthesis catalysts typically rely on nanomaterial-based engineering with multi-dimensional structural modifications. However, such approaches may not always be necessary, especially for underexplored industrial electrochemical conversions. Here, we demonstrate that commercial platinum (Pt) foil catalysts excel in the electrochemical co-oxidation of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-derived ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonia (NH3) into formamide (HCONH2), a process traditionally reliant on energy-intensive methods. This approach achieves a high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 55.87 ± 1.4% and a productivity of 1003.63 ± 23.72 µmol cm−2 h−1 at industrially relevant current densities without any degradation for durable operation (more than 500 h and 300 h for H-cell and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) reactor, respectively). In situ spectroscopy, supported by theoretical calculations, suggests that *CH2O and *NH2 are likely key intermediates. Furthermore, the product sustainability index (ProdSI) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) underscore the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of noble Pt foil in this scenario, challenging the conventional reliance on complex electrocatalysts. This work provides distinctive insights into catalyst screening and demonstrates a viable strategy for upcycling waste plastics.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63313-5

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