Volume 64, Issue 28 e202503828

Research Article

High-Performance Cu₆Sn₅ Alloy Electrocatalysts for Formaldehyde Oxidative Dehydrogenation and Bipolar Hydrogen Production

Xiaoyang Fu,

Xiaoyang Fu

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Dongfang Cheng,

Dongfang Cheng

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Ao Zhang,

Ao Zhang

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Jingxuan Zhou,

Jingxuan Zhou

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Sibo Wang,

Sibo Wang

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Chengzhang Wan,

Chengzhang Wan

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Xun Zhao,

Xun Zhao

Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Prof. Jun Chen,

Prof. Jun Chen

Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Prof. Philippe Sautet,

Corresponding Author

Prof. Philippe Sautet

[email protected]

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Yu Huang,

Corresponding Author

Prof. Yu Huang

[email protected]

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Xiangfeng Duan,

Corresponding Author

Prof. Xiangfeng Duan

[email protected]

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Xiaoyang Fu,

Xiaoyang Fu

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Dongfang Cheng,

Dongfang Cheng

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Ao Zhang,

Ao Zhang

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Jingxuan Zhou,

Jingxuan Zhou

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Sibo Wang,

Sibo Wang

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Chengzhang Wan,

Chengzhang Wan

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Xun Zhao,

Xun Zhao

Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Prof. Jun Chen,

Prof. Jun Chen

Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

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Prof. Philippe Sautet,

Corresponding Author

Prof. Philippe Sautet

[email protected]

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Yu Huang,

Corresponding Author

Prof. Yu Huang

[email protected]

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Xiangfeng Duan,

Corresponding Author

Prof. Xiangfeng Duan

[email protected]

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 06 May 2025

https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202503828

Citations: 2

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Graphical Abstract

The Cu₆Sn₅ alloy was developed as a high-performance, noble-metal-free electrocatalyst for the anodic formaldehyde oxidative dehydrogenation (FOD) reaction. When paired with the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), it enables a formaldehyde-assisted water electrolyzer, facilitating energy-efficient bipolar hydrogen production and the generation of value-added formate.

Abstract

Aldehyde-assisted water electrolysis offers an attractive pathway for energy-saving bipolar hydrogen production with combined faradaic efficiency (FE) of 200% while converting formaldehyde into value-added formate. Herein we report the design and synthesis of noble metal-free Cu₆Sn₅ alloy as a highly effective electrocatalyst for formaldehyde electro-oxidative dehydrogenation, demonstrating a geometric current density of 915 ± 46 mA cm⁻² at 0.4 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, outperforming many noble metal electrocatalysts reported previously. The formaldehyde-assisted water electrolyzer delivers 100 mA cm⁻² at a low cell voltage of 0.124 V, and a current density of 486 ± 20 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage of 0.6 V without any iR compensation and exhibits nearly 200% faradaic efficiency for bipolar hydrogen production at 100 mA cm⁻² in 88 h long-term operation. Density functional theory calculations further confirm the notably lowered barriers for dehydrogenation and Tafel steps on the Cu₆Sn₅ surface compared to Cu, underscoring its potential as a highly active catalyst.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Supporting Information

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Volume64, Issue28

July 7, 2025

e202503828

High-Performance Cu₆Sn₅ Alloy Electrocatalysts for Formaldehyde Oxidative Dehydrogenation and Bipolar Hydrogen Production

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Conflict of Interests

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

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High-Performance Cu6Sn5 Alloy Electrocatalysts for Formaldehyde Oxidative Dehydrogenation and Bipolar Hydrogen Production

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Abstract

Conflict of Interests

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

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High-Performance Cu₆Sn₅ Alloy Electrocatalysts for Formaldehyde Oxidative Dehydrogenation and Bipolar Hydrogen Production