Hydrogen and Chemicals from Renewable Alcohols by Organometallic Electroreforming

The selective and simultaneous production of hydrogen and chemicals from renewable alcohols was accomplished by using an electrolyzer, for which the anode electrocatalyst was an organometallic complex, [Rh(OTf)(trop2NH){P(4-BuC6H4)3}] (trop2NH=bis(5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-yl)amine; -OTf=CF3SO3 -), deposited on amorphous carbon and appropriately designed to promote the partial and selective oxidation of alcohols. The electrolyzer converted alcohols into industrially relevant chemicals and high-purity hydrogen at high volume and with very low energy consumption.