Concerted and Selective Electrooxidation of Polyethylene‐Terephthalate‐Derived Alcohol to Glycolic Acid at an Industry‐Level Current Density over a Pd−Ni(OH) 2 Catalyst

Abstract Electro‐reforming of Polyethylene‐terephthalate‐derived (PET‐derived) ethylene glycol (EG) into fine chemicals and H 2 is an ideal solution to address severe plastic pollution. Here, we report the electrooxidation of EG to glycolic acid (GA) with a high Faraday efficiency and selectivity (>85 %) even at an industry‐level current density (600 mA cm −2 at 1.15 V vs. RHE) over a Pd−Ni(OH) 2 catalyst. Notably, stable electrolysis over 200 h can be achieved, outperforming all available Pd‐based catalysts. Combined experimental and theoretical results reveal that 1) the OH* generation promoted by Ni(OH) 2 plays a critical role in facilitating EG‐to‐GA oxidation and removing poisonous carbonyl species,…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 2022YFB3803600, 22002132, 21971250, 21773275
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2022M723227
• UO
  University of Hong Kong
• CF
  CAS-Croucher Funding Scheme for Joint Laboratories
• YS
  Young Scientists Fund

  Award: 22002132
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2022YFB3803600