Effect of Electronic Substituents on the Electrochemical Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols
Sean Spriggs
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Faculty Supervisor: Jingjing Qiu
Water electrolysis is a key alternative to carbon-emitting hydrogen production, but its widespread adoption is limited by the sluggish, anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Replacing OER with an efficient alcohol oxidation reaction (AOR) can boost hydrogen evolution efficiency and provide value-added products. Electrochemical benzyl alcohol oxidation has attracted research attention due to its valuable products and high current densities at low potentials, making it an ideal model system. However, there is still a lack of understanding on the effects of substituents of benzyl alcohol on the efficiency of its AOR. AORs highly depend on molecular adsorption to the catalyst, and thus, it is critical to investigate their interfacial properties.
Our project will study the impacts of electrolyte pH, solvent effects, and steric and electronic effects of substituents in an AOR. This research focuses on the effect of electronic substituents on the reactivity and selectivity of electrochemical benzyl alcohol oxidation on gold and nickel electrodes. Through operando studies, including electrochemical Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, cyclic voltammetry, and electrolysis, deeper insight into the effects of electronic substituents can be achieved. A comprehensive understanding of substituted benzyl alcohols could lead to advances in hydrogen production, biomass utilization, and fine chemical synthesis.