Electrosynthesis of high carbon chemicals from carbon paper

Abstract

This work presents a novel approach for synthesizing high carbon chemicals through the electrolysis process. By utilizing carbon materials as the carbon source and water as the hydrogen source, high carbon chemicals can be produced through electrolysis under normal pressure and temperature conditions. This method achieves a selectivity of 56.09% for (Z)-9-octadecenitrile. In situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy indicates that carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms derived from water can form C–H bonds during electrolysis under reduction conditions. This study paves a new path for the electrochemical synthesis of high-carbon chemicals utilizing inorganic carbon materials and establishes a novel paradigm for organic synthesis involving the cleavage and restructuring of carbon–carbon bonds.