Selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanode
Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) synthesis offers a sustainable route for fine chemicals production, yet comprehending and modulating the reaction processes at the atomic level remains a challenge. Herein, we develop a single-atom Ir decorated Ti-doped α-Fe2O3 photoanode for selective PEC synthes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60506-w |
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| author | Shenghe Si Yuyin Mao Ying-Ao Liu Jun Ma Weiyi Jiang En-Dian Zhao Kepeng Song Hefeng Cheng Baibiao Huang Dong Liu Yujie Xiong |
| author_facet | Shenghe Si Yuyin Mao Ying-Ao Liu Jun Ma Weiyi Jiang En-Dian Zhao Kepeng Song Hefeng Cheng Baibiao Huang Dong Liu Yujie Xiong |
| author_sort | Shenghe Si |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) synthesis offers a sustainable route for fine chemicals production, yet comprehending and modulating the reaction processes at the atomic level remains a challenge. Herein, we develop a single-atom Ir decorated Ti-doped α-Fe2O3 photoanode for selective PEC synthesis of adipic acid from cyclohexanone using water as the oxygen source. The PEC system achieves 6.0 μmol cm–2 h–1 adipic acid production with ~60% Faradaic efficiency and ~88% selectivity. The single-atom Ir promotes the photogenerated carrier separation and transfer, while regulating the electronic structure of Ti-doped α-Fe2O3 photoanode to optimize its adsorption strength of OH– and cyclohexanone. Mechanistic studies reveal a non-free-radical reaction pathway at the atomic level, driven by photogenerated holes through an adsorbed hydroxyl transfer. Notably, integrating the photoanode and an amorphous silicon-based photocathode leads to a bias-free PEC device that enables stable adipic acid production for over 80 hours, underscoring the potential for sustainable light-driven synthesis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59efc1bd68924129b6a5a8d321c575d0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-59efc1bd68924129b6a5a8d321c575d02025-08-20T03:10:34ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-06-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-60506-wSelective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanodeShenghe Si0Yuyin Mao1Ying-Ao Liu2Jun Ma3Weiyi Jiang4En-Dian Zhao5Kepeng Song6Hefeng Cheng7Baibiao Huang8Dong Liu9Yujie Xiong10School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Institute of Crystal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of ChinaInstitute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Institute of Crystal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong UniversityState Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Institute of Crystal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong UniversityState Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Institute of Crystal Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) synthesis offers a sustainable route for fine chemicals production, yet comprehending and modulating the reaction processes at the atomic level remains a challenge. Herein, we develop a single-atom Ir decorated Ti-doped α-Fe2O3 photoanode for selective PEC synthesis of adipic acid from cyclohexanone using water as the oxygen source. The PEC system achieves 6.0 μmol cm–2 h–1 adipic acid production with ~60% Faradaic efficiency and ~88% selectivity. The single-atom Ir promotes the photogenerated carrier separation and transfer, while regulating the electronic structure of Ti-doped α-Fe2O3 photoanode to optimize its adsorption strength of OH– and cyclohexanone. Mechanistic studies reveal a non-free-radical reaction pathway at the atomic level, driven by photogenerated holes through an adsorbed hydroxyl transfer. Notably, integrating the photoanode and an amorphous silicon-based photocathode leads to a bias-free PEC device that enables stable adipic acid production for over 80 hours, underscoring the potential for sustainable light-driven synthesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60506-w |
| spellingShingle | Shenghe Si Yuyin Mao Ying-Ao Liu Jun Ma Weiyi Jiang En-Dian Zhao Kepeng Song Hefeng Cheng Baibiao Huang Dong Liu Yujie Xiong Selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanode Nature Communications |
| title | Selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanode |
| title_full | Selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanode |
| title_fullStr | Selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanode |
| title_full_unstemmed | Selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanode |
| title_short | Selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single-atom Ir decorated α-Fe2O3 photoanode |
| title_sort | selective photoelectrochemical synthesis of adipic acid using single atom ir decorated α fe2o3 photoanode |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60506-w |
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