Selective Paired Electro‐Conversion of <i>p</i> ‐Nitrophenol and Benzyl Alcohol Boosted by Asymmetric Co–C–W Bridging

ABSTRACT Paired electrosynthesis technology provides an effective pathway for green upgrading of low‐cost organics to high‐value‐added chemicals. However, engineering interfacial catalysts with unique atomic bridges to achieve synergistic effects and understanding their bifunctional mechanisms remain challenging. Here, a unique atomic interfacial Co‐C‐W electron bridge catalyst (Co SAs/W x C) with a nanoflower‐spherical structure is designed as a bifunctional catalyst for p ‐nitrophenol electroreduction reaction ( p ‐NP ERR) and benzyl alcohol (Ph‐CH 2 OH) oxidation reaction (BAOR). In p ‐NP ERR, W x C facilitates water dissociation to generate *H and enhances *H coverage on Co‐centers via reverse hydrogen spillover, promoting the key hydrogenation step (─NO 2 * to ─NO*). The Co–C–W bridge modulates Co e g orbitals, optimizing the adsorption of intermediates (Ph‐CH 2 O*/Ph‐CHO*) and thereby lowering reaction energy barriers for BAOR. Remarkably, a low cell‐voltage of 1.324 V is required to achieve 50 mA cm −2 , with a Faradaic efficiency of ∼99% and high production rates of high‐value p ‐aminophenol and Ph‐COOH (0.74 and 1.12 mmol h −1 cm −2 , respectively) as potential drug precursors. Importantly, the well‐built Co–C–W bridge regulates the electronic structures of the catalyst and moderate adsorption and transfer behaviors of reaction intermediates, boosting both p ‐NP ERR and BAOR. This work provides new insights for developing highly‐efficient integrated systems in diverse energy and organic chemical conversion applications.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-07-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.77139
Primary Topic
Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Selective Paired Electro‐Conversion of p ‐Nitrophenol and Benzyl Alcohol Boosted by Asymmetric Co–C–W Bridging

X Wang, Gengtao Fu, Yanjie Chen, Sichen Huo et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions
article

Selective Paired Electro‐Conversion of p ‐Nitrophenol and Benzyl Alcohol Boosted by Asymmetric Co–C–W Bridging

X Wang, Gengtao Fu, Yanjie Chen, Sichen Huo, Heyuan Sun, Zhuang Cai, Hang Yue, Jiannan Du, Guangming Li, Jinlong Zou, Ying Dai
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Paired electrosynthesis technology provides an effective pathway for green upgrading of low‐cost organics to high‐value‐added chemicals. However, engineering interfacial catalysts with unique atomic bridges to achieve synergistic effects and understanding their bifunctional mechanisms remain challenging. Here, a unique atomic interfacial Co‐C‐W electron bridge catalyst (Co SAs/W x C) with a nanoflower‐spherical structure is designed as a bifunctional catalyst for p ‐nitrophenol electroreduction reaction ( p ‐NP ERR) and benzyl alcohol (Ph‐CH 2 OH) oxidation reaction (BAOR). In p ‐NP ERR, W x C facilitates water dissociation to generate *H and enhances *H coverage on Co‐centers via reverse hydrogen spillover, promoting the key hydrogenation step (─NO 2 * to ─NO*). The Co–C–W bridge modulates Co e g orbitals, optimizing the adsorption of intermediates (Ph‐CH 2 O*/Ph‐CHO*) and thereby lowering reaction energy barriers for BAOR. Remarkably, a low cell‐voltage of 1.324 V is required to achieve 50 mA cm −2 , with a Faradaic efficiency of ∼99% and high production rates of high‐value p ‐aminophenol and Ph‐COOH (0.74 and 1.12 mmol h −1 cm −2 , respectively) as potential drug precursors. Importantly, the well‐built Co–C–W bridge regulates the electronic structures of the catalyst and moderate adsorption and transfer behaviors of reaction intermediates, boosting both p ‐NP ERR and BAOR. This work provides new insights for developing highly‐efficient integrated systems in diverse energy and organic chemical conversion applications.

Advanced Functional Materials
Nanjing Normal University (CN), Harbin Institute of Technology (CN), Heilongjiang Institute of Technology (CN), Heilongjiang University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions
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