V <sub>2</sub> O <sub>5</sub> Surface Electronic Structure Suppresses Ethane Over‐Oxidation, Enabling 65% Ethylene Yield

H Hongjuan Tao (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China) Y Yan Chen S Suting He (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China) B Benchi Chen (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China) Z Zhibo Shang (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China) Z Zilin Ma (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China) X Xueming Liu L Liyuan Chai (School of Metallurgy and Environment) Z Zhang Lin (School of Metallurgy and Environment)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Electrochemical oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) offers an energy‐efficient route to ethylene but faces a trade‐off between conversion and selectivity due to over‐oxidation. Conventional voltage–current regulation can suppress deep oxidation but inevitably compromises ethane conversion. Here, we engineer surface electronic structures by depositing a V 2 O 5 layer on SrFe 0.9 Ti 0.1 O 3−δ (STF), introducing intrinsic O 2p (‐1.33 eV) and V 3d (‐0.18 eV) states closer to the Fermi level than in STF (‐1.49/‐4.52 eV). Density functional theory and operando infrared spectroscopy reveal three synergistic effects: enhanced ethane adsorption (Δ E ads ‐0.33 vs. ‐0.11 eV), reduced first dehydrogenation barrier (Δ G 1 1.13 vs. 1.15 eV), and promoted ethylene desorption ((Δ G des ‐Δ G 3 ) ‐4.98 vs. ‐1.92 eV). The optimized anode delivers 65% yield and 90% selectivity at 750°C, exceeding unmodified STF by 10%. This work highlights band‐center engineering as a promising design concept for regulating hydrocarbon electrode reactions.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published June 20, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

H

Hongjuan Tao

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China

Y

Yan Chen

S

Suting He

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China

B

Benchi Chen

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China

Z

Zhibo Shang

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China

Z

Zilin Ma

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology Guangzhou China

X

Xueming Liu

L

Liyuan Chai

School of Metallurgy and Environment

Z

Zhang Lin

School of Metallurgy and Environment