Precisely Constructing Ag <sub>1</sub> /C <sub>3</sub> N <sub>4</sub> Dual‐Site for Highly Efficient Chlorine‐Mediated Electrocatalytic Methane Valorization
ABSTRACT Electrocatalytic conversion of CH 4 to CH 3 Cl offers a sustainable route for inert alkane valorization. The core challenge is the tension between activating the initial C─H bond and suppressing sequential dehydrogenation, which critically depends on the electrogenerated *Cl mediators. Here, we construct a silver single‐atom electrocatalyst on graphitic carbon nitride (Ag 1 /C 3 N 4 ) that enables *Cl generation at the C site of the C 3 N 4 support, markedly facilitating the *Cl generation and selective methane chlorination. In a flow cell with saturated NaCl at ambient conditions, Ag 1 /C 3 N 4 attains a benchmark CH 3 Cl yield of 1784.5 mmol g −1 h −1 with 88.0% selectivity at 1.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Combined experimental and computational insights reveal that the electrogenerated *Cl locally restructures the Ag 1 –C 3 N 4 interface to contribute to a synergistic Ag─N─C─*Cl site that promotes CH 4 activation and chlorination. This *Cl‐induced metal‐support synergy markedly lowers the energy demand for initial C─H cleavage (from 1.32 to 0.67 eV) and CH 3 Cl formation (from 1.52 to 0.83 eV), with a low CH 3 Cl desorption energy (0.27 eV) to suppress over‐dehydrogenation. This work establishes a *Cl‐mediated dual‐site pathway for electrocatalytic methane valorization, offering a promising strategy for mediator‐guided active site engineering in challenging inert‐alkane valorization.
Authors
- Tinghui Ma
- Xiaole Weng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2997-571X)
- Hehe Qian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2040-3769)
- Le Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3611-7801)
- Yumin Mao
- Haisong Cui
- Feng Bi
- Zhongbiao Wu
Institutions
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse (CN)
- Zhejiang Lab (CN)
- Zhejiang Environmental Monitoring Center (CN)
- Zhejiang University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie
- Published
- 2026-05-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.8172050
- Primary Topic
- Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China