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.

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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

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article

Precisely Constructing Ag 1 /C 3 N 4 Dual‐Site for Highly Efficient Chlorine‐Mediated Electrocatalytic Methane Valorization

Tinghui Ma, Xiaole Weng, Hehe Qian, Le Shi et al.
Angewandte Chemie
Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
article

Precisely Constructing Ag 1 /C 3 N 4 Dual‐Site for Highly Efficient Chlorine‐Mediated Electrocatalytic Methane Valorization

Tinghui Ma, Xiaole Weng, Hehe Qian, Le Shi, Yumin Mao, Haisong Cui, Feng Bi, Zhongbiao Wu
article en

Abstract

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.

Angewandte Chemie
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse (CN), Zhejiang Lab (CN), Zhejiang Environmental Monitoring Center (CN), Zhejiang University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Responsible consumption and production
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
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