Cu‐Sn Biphasic Alloy Heterostructure With <i>p‐d</i> Orbital Hybridization for Efficient Electrosynthesis of Amino Acids
Abstract
ABSTRACT The electrocatalytic conversion of NO x species into amino acids is an attractive approach. However, significant challenges lie in the matching kinetics of C−N coupling and high selectivity for the target product. Herein, a Cu 3 Sn/Cu 6 Sn 5 biphasic alloy heterostructure (Cu‐Sn BAH) with p‐d orbital hybridization has been constructed by phase control engineering for enhanced amino acid electrosynthesis, delivering a remarkable glycine Faradaic efficiency of 80% and a selectivity of 93% at −0.8 V vs. RHE. Experimental and mechanistic studies reveal that the strong p‐d orbital hybridization between d ‐block Cu and p ‐block Sn effectively modulates interfacial electronic structure between Cu 3 Sn and Cu 6 Sn 5 biphasic alloys, promoting the electron transfer and optimizing the adsorption of NO 3– and glyoxylic acid, and thus facilitating the generation of *NH 2 OH with reduced energy barriers and subsequent oxime hydrogenation. This work offers a distinctive electrocatalyst design strategy for highly selective amino acid synthesis via orbital engineering and heterostructure construction, and also encourages the development of C−N coupling systems.
Article Details
Authors (8)
Kaixing Cai
MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry GBRCE For Functional Molecular Engineering Lehn Institute of Functional Materials School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou China
Jiahui Xian
Shilin Bo
MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry GBRCE For Functional Molecular Engineering Lehn Institute of Functional Materials School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou China
Haixin Sun
Runan Xiang
MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry GBRCE For Functional Molecular Engineering Lehn Institute of Functional Materials School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou China
Wenpei Liao
MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry GBRCE For Functional Molecular Engineering Lehn Institute of Functional Materials School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou China
Qinghua Liu
National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
Guangqin Li
MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry GBRCE For Functional Molecular Engineering Lehn Institute of Functional Materials School of Chemistry Sun Yat‐Sen University Guangzhou China