Unconventional Inverse Size‐Effects Enable Efficient C–N Coupling on Copper Electrocatalysts

Abstract Exposed coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS) with the reducing geometrical sizes of catalysts commonly offers significant advantages in heterogeneous electrocatalytic processes. However, this empirical rule might be unsuitable for the innovative electrocatalytic C–N coupling reaction, as one of the parallel reactions. In this study, we observe an inverse size‐effect in the electrocatalytic synthesis of benzaldehyde oximes (BAO) from nitrates and benzaldehyde. Cu nanocatalysts with more exposed CUS thermodynamically favor the over‐reduction of coupling intermediates, i.e., adsrobed hydroxylamine (*NH 2 OH) and benzaldehyde (*Ph‐CHO), leading to a low BAO yield. Notably, Cu foil with few CUS enables the enrichment of *NH 2 OH and *Ph‐CHO, achieving a BAO yield of 91%. Moreover, this electrosynthesis strategy on Cu foil demonstrates versatility and broad applicability for producing various oximes. This work highlights the significant potential of inverse size effects in guiding the design of catalysts for electrocatalytic C–N coupling reactions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2025-10-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202517830
Primary Topic
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
Type
article
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article

Unconventional Inverse Size‐Effects Enable Efficient C–N Coupling on Copper Electrocatalysts

Mengyi Qiu, Yanzhi Xu, Yandong Wu, Yuqin Zou et al.
Angewandte Chemie
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
article

Unconventional Inverse Size‐Effects Enable Efficient C–N Coupling on Copper Electrocatalysts

Mengyi Qiu, Yanzhi Xu, Yandong Wu, Yuqin Zou, Chung‐Li Dong, Jiawang Chen, Ta Thi Thuy Nga, Chao Xie, Ruiqi Wang, Qinghua Liu, Dongdong Wang, Shuangyin Wang, Wenjie Wu
article en

Abstract

Abstract Exposed coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS) with the reducing geometrical sizes of catalysts commonly offers significant advantages in heterogeneous electrocatalytic processes. However, this empirical rule might be unsuitable for the innovative electrocatalytic C–N coupling reaction, as one of the parallel reactions. In this study, we observe an inverse size‐effect in the electrocatalytic synthesis of benzaldehyde oximes (BAO) from nitrates and benzaldehyde. Cu nanocatalysts with more exposed CUS thermodynamically favor the over‐reduction of coupling intermediates, i.e., adsrobed hydroxylamine (*NH 2 OH) and benzaldehyde (*Ph‐CHO), leading to a low BAO yield. Notably, Cu foil with few CUS enables the enrichment of *NH 2 OH and *Ph‐CHO, achieving a BAO yield of 91%. Moreover, this electrosynthesis strategy on Cu foil demonstrates versatility and broad applicability for producing various oximes. This work highlights the significant potential of inverse size effects in guiding the design of catalysts for electrocatalytic C–N coupling reactions.

Angewandte ChemieVol. 137(51)
Tamkang University (TW), Jishou University (CN), Hunan University (CN), National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 82%
Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction
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