Intermediate-Temperature Alkane Electrochemical Activation

Electrochemical activation of alkanes plays an enabling role for applications ranging from fuel cells to electro-production of materials and chemicals. Intermediate-temperature (>200 o C) electrochemical devices have improved diffusions, reaction kinetics, and feedstock flexibility. In this contribution, we present the electrochemical activation of alkanes using intermediate-temperature electrochemical devices. Our work is inspired by Duan et al. whose work showed that alkanes can be oxidized as fuel in protonic ceramic fuel cells 1 . We extend this concept and evaluate whether this electrochemical activation can activate longer-chain hydrocarbons to form industrial gases. We present a comparison of the electrochemical approach to pyrolysis, and in particular, its selectivity. Different electrocatalysts will be evaluated to test both electrochemical and thermal oxidation. Finally, we use small-molecule oxidation experiments to probe how the thermochemical reactions occur in parallel with the electrochemical conversion. We identify the products from these processes and propose the alkane activation mechanism. Duan, C.; Kee, R. J.; Zhu, H.; Karakaya, C.; Chen, Y.; Ricote, S.; Jarry, A.; Crumlin, E. J.; Hook, D.; Braun, R.; Sullivan, N. P.; O’Hayre, R., Highly durable, coking and sulfur tolerant, fuel-flexible protonic ceramic fuel cells. Nature 2018, 557 (7704), 217-222.